Your lawn doesn’t require as much care in the winter as it does the rest of the year, but you don’t want to ignore it completely.
Winter can be unpredictable, especially in the Midwest, and may put your lawn through some extreme conditions. The best thing you can do for your lawn is to take care of the grass now and “put it to bed” before winter officially sets in.
If you take steps in the fall to keep your lawn healthy over winter, you won’t be kicking yourself when spring rolls around, and your lawn isn’t as green or luscious as the previous spring.
Take the following steps this winter to ensure the health of your lawn come springtime:
Aerate and Fertilize Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn gives it a chance to breathe before it goes dormant and helps relieve any compaction that built up during summer.
Once your lawn is aerated and breathing, it’s a good time to fertilize. Your grass will get the essential nutrients it needs to prepare for winter.
The grass roots absorb and store the nutrients during winter and then, in the spring, the grass roots tap into those nutrients to give it a head start, making it green and lush.
Taking care of your lawn now means your lawn won’t be ragged and run-down in spring.
Keep It Clean
It’s likely that leaves piled up on your lawn during fall, and that could lead to your lawn suffocating before winter.
Leaves left on your lawn could get too wet and invite disease. If the layer of leaves is too thick, wet, or matted down, you’ll want to rake them up and remove them. If they aren’t too thick or wet, mulch the leaves with your mower to recycle the nutrients back into your lawn.
Avoid Traffic on the Lawn
When the lawn has a layer of frost or its laying dormant, try to avoid walking on it too much. Even the strongest grass can become weak if the same path is walked over too many times.
Prepare Now
Have your winter lawn care plan in place well ahead of time. Once there’s a chilly breeze in the air, keep an eye on the forecast, so you leave yourself enough time to put your plan into action before the first frost arrives.
Call the experienced team at Pro Outdoor today to ensure your lawn remains healthy all winter. They can help with aerating and overseeding your lawn for fall and winter. Your lawn is an investment, so you should get help from the best.