How to Care for a Lawn in the Fall and Winter
The cooler months may give homeowners a reprieve from the summer ritual of mowing the lawn, but there are a few essential things that should be done to care for your lawn during the fall and winter. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Let it grow. While tall grass is shunned in the summer, it’s important to let it grow some in cooler months. Allow it to grow up to 3 or 4 inches. Doing so will protect your lawn in the winter months, because a lawn that is cut too low can damage the root system.
-
2
Fertilize. Applying a nitrogen-based fertilizer changes the color of the grass and encourages growth. The fertilizer will protect your lawn all winter. Just be sure to follow up in the spring with a regular fertilizer and again in the summer. Knowing when to apply a fertilizer is just as important as the type applied. The best time to apply it is just after a good rain. The ground is moist and can easily absorb all of the nutrients being applied. To ensure that the fertilizer is evenly distributed, use a drop fertilizer to apply the product over a yard.
-
-
3
Remove fallen leaves. It’s essential to control fallen leaves because they can smother grasses, especially on those newly seeded. And if that’s not a good enough reason to break out the rake, be aware that matted leaves left on the lawn can cause all kinds of insect and disease problems. For this cleaning task, if there is any concern about uprooting young grass blades, a bamboo rake works best because it does less damage than steel or plastic models. A blower or mulching mower is a great alternative to the old-fashioned rake, but more costly and nosier.
-
4
Keep off the grass. Ice on lawns or trampling on newly sodden lawns can be devastating to young grass blades.
-
1
