Winterizing your Lawn: Best Practices
The days are starting to get shorter and the nights cooler. As much as we don’t want to admit it, winter is fast approaching. That means the time is right to start thinking about winterizing your lawn. By taking a couple of preemptive steps, you can make sure your lawn will have the best start possible when spring rolls around again.
First Steps to Winterizing your Lawn
It helps to have a clear canvas to work on, so the first step is to deal with your leaves. The happy news is, you don’t necessarily have to rake them. This is also a good time to remove any branches, old planters, or other tired lawn decorations and objects that you don’t want to keep for next year. This will get you started on the right foot for winterizing your lawn properly.
Best Time to Fertilize!
Consider fertilizing your lawn. This is an essential part of winterizing your lawn. Fall is the best time to fertilize, as it makes sure your grass roots have extra nutrients stored for throughout the winter. In addition, a thick, healthy lawn helps to crowd out weeds, and a strong root system makes your lawn very hearty and full.
Aerating for Good Airflow
Another way you can help your lawn’s root system is by aerating your lawn. This not only gives your lawn some extra breathing room, but it also gives the roots more space to grow. This way, they become more intertwined. This is a major benefit when it comes to keeping weeds from moving in. Plus, this ensures that your grass will have access to enough nutrients throughout the cold season.
Overseeding
The cooler weather is a great time to overseed your lawn. Overseeding is a staple to winterizing your lawn. This will help your grass grow thick and healthy and give it a boost when it bounces back in the spring.
Using a rake, vigorously rake your lawn to expose the grass roots and remove any debris. Next, spread some fertilizer. Thoroughly mix some good quality soil with lawn seed at a ratio of 40 to 1. Evenly distribute this mixture over your lawn. It’s best to begin with a little bit in order to ensure you don’t run out. You can always go back a second and a third time to ensure complete coverage. At the end of this step, you want about 1/4 inch of the seed-soil mixture covering the entire area. Next, lightly rake the mixture in to ensure good contact with the existing soil.
Remember to water! Water frequently to ensure the top of the soil stays moist. The typically damp fall weather will certainly help with this process. However, it is important that you provide your lawn with 1/4 inch of water daily for the first two weeks and every other day for the second two weeks after overseeding.
Winterizing your Lawn Mower
Finally, make sure you keep an eye on your lawn’s length, and be sure to mow it one last time if it needs it. Then, be sure to store your mower properly so it’s ready to go come spring.
When winterizing your lawn, it is essential to follow these steps closely. They will ensure your lawn comes back thick and full once the weather warms up again. Your lawn is sure to be the envy of the neighborhood!