By Jenny Biczak for Harmony Outdoor Brands
Photographs courtesy of Harmony Outdoor Brands
As winter approaches, lawns turn yellow or brown and go dormant, but that doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from a bit of care and attention. In this article, you will learn how to care for your lawn in winter to keep it healthy, and give you a jump-start on the next growing season, making it the envy of the neighborhood in the spring.
Clear The Way
Anything left on the grass during wintry weather can create dead spots in your lawn. Wet leaves can also encourage disease so best to get them out while you can. Leaf cleanup by raking and bagging is a choice. If you have a mulching lawnmower, you can also mulch the leaves and let them break down naturally. Remove debris like stones, sticks and branches and store seasonal furniture and toys.
Keep Off The Lawn
Steer clear from walking on dormant lawns to avoid making unsightly paths and worn spots. Soil compaction can also limit the nutrient and water uptake in your lawn.
Ice Breaker
Using salt on icy areas can damage your lawn and garden. There are salt-free and pet-safe alternatives that can be used instead of traditional salt treatments. When removing snow, try to avoid piling the snow from the driveway and road on the grass. Residual salt from the road can build up and burn your lawn come spring.
Breathe Easy
Aerate your lawn before the snow flies. Aerating allows your lawn to “breathe” by releasing soil compaction. Throughout the spring and summer, traffic from people and equipment have compacted the soil. Aerating is a wonderful way to open things up by improving airflow and drainage before the ground freezes. It also helps with the last round of feeding your lawn.
Skipped Feeding in Fall?
If you didn’t fertilize in the fall, apply a winter or late season feed to strengthen your lawn. A late season feed can give your lawn the nutrients it needs to come out of winter strong and ready to grow! Having a healthy lawn throughout the year not only looks great, but it also minimizes issues with pests, diseases, and weeds. It’s a win-win.
By Dan Heims, President, Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Photographs courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova’s breeders have created a series of outstanding world-class echinaceas that are consistent in size, bloom power, color intensity and are a pollinator buffet. What’s not to like.
To learn more, click here for an interesting article.
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