Tips on How To Keep Your Lawn Healthy During Winter

Winter is right around the corner. If you haven’t already switched over your lawn care to winter wonderland mode, then now would probably be a good time to do that. Here are some tips on how to keep your lawn healthy during this time of year:

How To Keep Your Lawn Healthy During Winter

• Keep an eye out for brown patches in your grass – As the weather gets colder, it can kill off some of the turf roots which can cause brown spots or holes to appear in your lawn. To help prevent these areas from getting bigger, don’t walk barefoot or with gravels and stones on any of these spots. This will only make them worse if not tended to immediately!
• Reduce water usage – If you live where temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit during the coldest months of winter, then it is recommended that you decrease the amount of water you use on your lawn. This is especially important during times of drought or if you live in an area where there isn’t much rain at all during this time of year.
• Feel free to fertilize – Even though grass may seem like it’s dead, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still fertilize as needed. Just as long as you don’t use a weed and feed type fertilizer, then there shouldn’t be any problems with doing so. The only types of fertilizer that should not be used during this time are those which have large amounts of nitrogen since too much nitrogen will burn the roots from the inside out!
• Keep your lawn mower blade sharp – A dull blade can cause damage to the grass by either tearing or ripping it. If you don’t want to bring your mower in during the winter, then you might be best served if you invest in a scissor type sharpener so that your blade will remain as fresh as possible.
• Remove dead plant material – This is especially important during cold weather since some of this material can contribute extra weight to plants which are trying to stay alive until next season! It’s better for them if these dried out parts are removed now rather than after they have died off all together. This may also mean getting rid of any weeds that pop up over time as well.
• Repair leaky spigots – If you have any leaky spigots, then it would be in your best interests to repair them now before the cold weather hits. This will definitely help prevent any problems with water freezing in your lines!
• Trim hedges and shrubs – It doesn’t matter what kind of shrubs or bushes you have growing around your property, they are sure to get dry after the winter. Keeping these areas neat and tidy during this time will help protect them from getting damaged when there is a sudden change in the weather!
• Look into replacing existing sod – Sod that was placed on top of soil which hasn’t had chance to settle may start coming apart during cold months. You can either chose to repair this by staking the sod down, layering it with mulch, or replacing it completely.
• Install a fence to prevent pets from relieving themselves on your yard – If you have pets who like to go outside whenever they feel like it, then there is nothing wrong with installing an inexpensive fence so that they can do their business out in the yard without causing any damage. This will also help protect your grass from any major problems that may arise if this happens!
• Spread straw around plants for protection – Straw, hay, pine needles are all excellent products which can be used as natural barriers during cold winter months. Applying these items around delicate plants will help insulate them and keep them safe from frost bite!
• You can prune certain trees – While you should avoid pruning most trees during the winter due to the threat of them getting a disease or infection, there are certain types that can be done at this time. If you have fruit bearing trees then go ahead and trim away any dead wood, but refrain from cutting off more than what can fit in your hand!
• Utilize mulch – Mulching is a great way to keep weeds from growing up around your plants as well as providing extra insulation for roots.. Make sure that you only use organic mulches such as pine bark because other types can cause damage if they don’t break down all the way before new growth begins!
• Prune evergreens sparingly – Never prune evergreens during the winter months since they are suffering from extreme stress as it is. If you have a hedge which you have been neglecting, then now may be a good time to trim those branches so that they don’t take over your property once spring finally gets here!
• Monitor for disease – After all of your hard work, not checking for signs of disease could cause major problems. Signs such as discoloration, curling leaves, and canker should be monitored closely if you notice any of them popping up around your yard. Make sure to contact a professional landscaping business for advice on how best to treat these conditions!
• You can plant bulbs now – As long as the soil hasn’t frozen yet (which is unlikely in most cases) then you should be able to plant bulbs such as tulips and crocus. You can also add fertilizer at this point which will give them a boost once they start growing again!
• Keep an eye on pets – If your dog or cat is left outside during the winter months, make sure that they have plenty of warm shelter and enough food and water to last throughout the coldest night. Keeping an extra bed in there from now until next spring will go a long way!