Your lawn typically goes dormant in the winter, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. There are a few things you can do to keep your lawn in the best condition during the winter and prepare it for spring. At Arbor-Nomics Turf, we’ve compiled 5 preventive winter lawn care tips. If you need lawn care in Suwanee or Alpharetta, call Arbor-Nomics Turf.
Read on to learn how to care for your lawn in the winter.
- Aerate Your Lawn Just Before Cold Weather Sets In
Aeration is an important part of preparing your lawn for the cold weather. If there’s heavy foot traffic around your lawn or you regularly move heavy machinery through your lawn, the soil underneath the grass may become compacted and dry. Compacted soil can prevent air, water, and fertilizer from reaching your lawn’s root system and cause drainage problems. It’s a good idea to aerate your lawn to relieve compaction, improve drainage, and minimize thatch buildup. Proper aeration also increases water infiltration into the soil and improves nutrient uptake by grass roots, thereby contributing to a fuller and thicker lawn. You can aerate your soil manually by pushing a fork or aerating shoes, or use a power aerating tool.
- Fertilize Your Lawn
After you’ve aerated your lawn, apply slow-release fertilizer with a spreader to encourage food storage in the winter and keep your lawn healthy through the cold season. Applying fertilizer during winter will promote healthy root growth, so when spring comes around, the grass will get off to a good start. Never fertilize your lawn when the soil is frozen, because those nutrients won’t hold in the soil. For the soil to retain nutrients, the fertilizer needs to come into contact with the soil.
Four Tips for Fertilizing Your Lawn During Winter
- Follow the directions on the label
- After applying the fertilizer, water your lawn lightly to allow the fertilizer to be better absorbed
- Avoid applying nitrogen-rich fertilizer when your lawn is dormant, as it could increase unwanted weed growth
- Apply slow-release lawn fertilizer
- Mowing Your Lawn for Winter
As you are getting ready for winter, lower the height of your mower by an inch or two. This helps to avoid disease conditions and reduces the risk of lawn damage from freezing. Be careful not to cut the grass too short because extremely cold weather can be brutal on grass that is shorter than 2 inches.
- Clear Leaves and Debris
It’s important to keep your lawn free of leaves, tree branches, and other debris during the winter. These things can impede drainage, cause soil compaction, invite pests to your lawn, and create disease conditions.
- Apply Herbicides
Weeds can easily take over your lawn during its dormant state in the winter. It’s advisable to apply the right herbicides during the winter, so that you’ll still have a healthy lawn in the spring.
Looking for A Trusted Lawn Care Company? Call Arbor-Nomics Turf
If you’re in need of lawn care in Alpharetta or lawn care in Suwanee, reach out to Arbor-Nomics Turf. We are a reputable lawn care company that offers high-quality lawn services, including lawn care in Suwanee, lawn care in Alpharetta, spring aeration, weed control and fertilization, outdoor pest control, and many more.
