It’s been a long summer for many of us, filled with big weather events and gardening challenges. We’re moving into the cooler months now, and some of us are already dealing with the beginnings of winter. Seasons changing is always a challenge in the world of gardening and landscaping, and while the grass in our yards may not be the most dramatic or exciting garden plant, but lawns are an important part of landscaping and a little care now can deliver big results later on. Preparing your lawn for winter is an important chore at this time of the year, so let’s dig in and learn some tips for getting our grass ready for the cold!
Let’s start the process by clearing the lawn of debris and then removing weeds and unwanted plants. Leaving debris like leaves, branches, grass cuttings, and other growth on your lawn can have a negative impact on your grass over the winter as such debris may provide a home to mold and fungus while simultaneously killing off the grass beneath. We’re all about rewilding and persevering spaces for native plants and wildlife, but it may be best to do this in a planned and deliberate way. If you want your grass looking good in the spring, clear the debris away in the fall. Likewise, weeds can proliferate if left unchecked, expanding via root growth over the winter and becoming even more difficult to remove in the spring. Get them out of your lawn before you put your grass to bed for the winter and you’ll make life much easier when the weather warms up.
The next step in preparing your lawn for winter is to mow your lawn one last time. The trick for your final fall mowing is to cut the grass relatively low—2.5 to 3 inches/ 6-8cm is generally regarded as an optimal length. By cutting your grass low and removing the clippings, you’ll reduce the chance for mold and fungus damage and help your grass focus on below-the-surface growth during the cold weather months. It’s a simple job that yields big returns; try to view it as one last hurrah with your lawn mower before putting it away for the winter.
Aerating the lawn one last time before winter is yet another step designed to curtail the growth of mold or fungus by promoting good air circulation among the roots of the grass and helping the soil breath. This in turn promotes the growth of good microorganisms, helps your grass put out healthy roots, and keeps your soil from becoming overly compacted during the winter. The method you use for lawn aeration is up to you—depending on the size of your yard you may prefer either spiked sandals, a plug aerator, or a mechanized aerator. Use the tool that best fits your needs to make the job as easy as possible.
Finally, it’s time to top-dress with fertilizer or compost one last time before winter comes. We recommend using well-aged compost or a pellet fertilizer; either way please make sure that you don’t leave clumps of either compost or fertilizer on your grass. Clumps can cause the same mold, fungus, or growth problems as leaves or lawn waste, so you may want to rake your lawn a bit to make sure that the compost or fertilizer is spread evenly over your lawn.
Responsible lawn care is an important aspect of landscape gardening, and we hope these tips help you get your grass ready for winter. As always we welcome feedback, tips, and tricks you’d like to share, so get in touch. Gardzen is all about community and we love to hear from you!
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