Winter Lawn Care: What You Should Know

ByLandscape Workshop

BURRRRR….. The fall months have suddenly taken a turn for the COLD. Worried about keeping your lawn just as healthy as it was during the summer? Well, you are in luck! Winter lawn maintenance and health is the simplest of all seasons even though the outward appearance of the lawn will frighten many homeowners. Read below to hear from expertise, Sr. Account Manager Jeremy Comer on how you can keep your lawn healthy during the winter months…

“One common misconception is that when the lawn turns brown starting around thanksgiving that it is dead. In fact, it only dormant and in a state of hibernation. It is resting and recharging for the next Spring and Summer. This dormancy is brought on by the temperatures dropping and the leaves no longer growing. Resources are reallocated to the roots for the remainder of the winter which keeps them alive and able to push new vibrant growth in the spring. Actions that can done by the property owner in order to give the lawn its best success throughout the winter include the following:

  • Aeration: This is a process that involves taking cores of the lawn and soil 1/2” wide by 2-3” deep and pulling them out. This allows nutrients to penetrate into the soil as well as reduce compaction brought on by a full season of mowing and foot traffic.
  • De-Thatching: Thatch is a layer of organic material that is not yet decomposed between the blades of grass and the soil level. This thatch accumulates as the lawn is cut throughout the summer months and clippings are introduced back into the lawn. This buildup of thatch can prevent air, water and nutrients from reaching the root system. It can also provide a home for insects to bed down and create infestations that can damage turf.

Other than these items, the winter months is when the lawn rests and recharges for the next season and it is in the homeowners best interest to let the lawn be as it is and let nature run its course. No need to add supplemental nutrients or irrigation to the lawn during the winter as they will not be actively used by the lawn during its dormancy.”

So while our lawns may seem to not be at their healthiest during the winter, remember – they’re probably just in “hibernation”!