From mowing and aerating to fertilizing and controlling pests, each step taken now will show striking differences when the days begin to warm up again. Here are some tested steps to ensure that your lawn comes through winter healthy and prepared to thrive.
1. Continue Mowing Until Frost Begins to Set In
Even though the growth has slowed down, grass grows quite well into autumn. It's best to continue mowing at your regular height of cut until the turf has stopped growing, completely. After the initial frost, the mowing height can be dropped somewhat for the final cut.
Mowing a little bit shorter on the last mow helps reduce the potential for disease, such as snow mold that occurs when grass flops over and becomes buried under snow. Mowing your lawn before winter helps sunlight and air circulation reach the roots of the grass, setting up for a much healthier spring comeback.
2. Aerating to Fight Compaction
Summer fun compact the soil, and that indeed can smother your grass by preventing necessary nutrients, water, and oxygen from reaching the root zone.
Aerating before the ground freezes opens the soil to allow water and oxygen to reach deep into the soil and spur stronger roots. The best time to aerate is when the grass is in an active growth phase-early in the fall-so that it can heal quickly. This will also help your lawn resist disease by reducing compaction and recover from summer heat stresses.
3. Fertilize for Stronger Grass
Fall fertilizing helps your lawn build up nutrient stores it can use over the course of the winter. Using a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer will help promote healthier root development that also readies your grass for dormancy. Apply about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
This will prevent over-applied nitrogen towards the end of the season, which encourages your turf to put on too much growth and makes your grass more prone to disease such as snow mold. Adding potassium in the mix will toughen the grass up and prepare it for resistance from disease or cold weather damage.
4. Reseed Bare Spots
If there are any bare or thinning spots in your lawn, fall is really the best time to overseed. New grass just loves cool temperatures and increased moisture to establish itself.
Apply quality seed matching your existing grass type, and apply it evenly over bare areas.
Keep these newly seeded areas watered consistently until the ground freezes to ensure good root development. Infilling these bare spots now will give your lawn a consistent look; it also inhibits weeds from dominating this spring.
5. Thatch Prevention Continued Raking
These fallen leaves may appear harmless, but they can in fact create a thick mat to block out the sun and air from getting to your grass. Periodic raking during fall prevents thatch buildup and disease such as fungal growth.
Instead, use a rake to tenderly pick the leaves up along with dead grass to allow better aeration. This also saves the trapped moisture from building up. Leaves left on the lawn over winter will smother the grass, leaving brown spots come spring.
6. Pest Control and Weed Management
This is also the time of year when any pests or weeds that will be actively working against your lawn over the winter should be treated. Many pests, like grubs, burrow into the soil and cause damage there. A pesticide can be applied or a grub control treatment can be applied to kill off these pests before the ground freezes.
The pre-emergent weed killer functions similarly, in that it kills weeds-like crabgrass before it emerges once spring rolls around. By handling these problems now, you're less likely to face a lawn full of weeds during the year's hotter months.
7. Water Wisely
Even while fall often brings more rain, it remains a great time of year to continue keeping an eye on your lawn's moisture levels. Grass needs about an inch of water a week to stay healthy, normally.
You can keep on with regular watering until the first frost has normally occurred in your area. Your lawn will go dormant and no longer need watering at that point.
Keeping your grass well-watered in advance of winter gives them an extra boost of vigor to fight off cold and aids in lessening possible damage from dehydration during dry winter months.
8. Fungicide Application (Optional)
If your lawn has been plagued by snow mold or other fungal diseases in the past, a late fall application of fungicide can protect it. Snow mold forms when heavy snow falls and traps moisture down on the grass, creating the perfect location for fungi to grow. Application of fungicide before the first freeze prevents this.
Applications of fungicides should only be considered when your lawn has been troubled with specific fungal problems since it may create other complications if it's used improperly.
Additional Tips Lawn Tools and Winterization
Remember to clean and store your lawn tools before winter sets in. Drain the fuel from your mower, clean the blades, then store it in a dry safe place to prevent rust. You can save time in the spring by sharpening your mower blades now. Give a good cleaning to your tools so they will be ready when the weather warms up again.
FAQs
How late in the fall can I mow my lawn?
You should continue mowing until after the first hard frost. As long as daytime temperatures are above 50°F (10°C), grass continues to grow. Once growth has stopped, you can make the final cut of the year, lightly lowering the mower blades to avoid matting under snow.
Should I fertilize my lawn this fall?
Yes, fertilize this fall. An application of a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer will help strengthen roots, storing nutrients in the lawn so that when spring hits, your lawn gets a jump-start. On the other hand, avoiding too much nitrogen too late in the season will reduce unwanted winter growth.
Should I aerate my lawn before winter?
Yes, it's a good idea to aerate your lawn in early to mid-fall. Aerating allows for the soil compaction to be relieved and gives a way for air, water, and nutrients to get to the roots. Doing this before winter just simply helps with your lawn's health after dealing with a summer of foot traffic and heat.
Can I plant grass seed in the fall?
Over seeding of thin or bare areas works great during fall. Cooler temperatures and increased moisture allow ideal conditions for germination of grass seed and development of a strong root system before winter. Just make sure to give new grass enough water until frost sets in.
Do leave your comments