It is time prepare your lawn to face fall and winter. Here are a few tips!
APPLY FERTILIZER IN THE LATE FALL
A good layer of fertilizer will help replace any nutrients lost during the summer. Apply fertilizer before the first freeze to ensure that the nutrients get taken in by the lawn as soon as possible.
Some fertilizers release nutrients all winter long. These fertilizers have a time release formula. Laying time release fertilizer before the first freeze will ensure that your lawn gets nutrients during even the coldest months. When spring comes, you should have a lush and green lawn.
2. ADJUST MOWER BLADES PER THE TIME OF THE YEAR
Adjusting the blades on your mower is a good tactic to prepare for winter. Most people stop mowing their lawns during the fall. Do not keep mowing your grass after it has stopped growing for the year. Continued mowing could damage the grass and strip out the roots, leaving you with bald spots on your lawn.
When you mow during the later part of the summer, lower your mower blade to leave the grass nice and short. The shorter grass strengthens the overall quality of your lawn by forcing newer growth to occur. Longer blades of grass are also at risk for brisk winter winds, which sap moisture from the soil beneath.
Be gradual about this approach. If you have kept your grass long through the year, then chopped off a generous portion, the weakened grass blades could make your lawn brittle. Gradually lowering the mower blade allows the lawn to adjust and grow thick and hearty grass.
3. RAKE YOUR LEAVES
Leaving leaves in their place can seem like a great way to enhance the soil and give it rich nutrients. In fact, dead leaves can catch excess moisture and leave wet spots on the lawn. When this happens, moss, mold, and other destructive plant life can wreck your grass.
Gather all of your leaves from your lawn and get rid of them. If you want to ensure nutrient-rich soil, create a compost pile using the raked leaves as the start. That way, you can control how the leaves get dispersed over the lawn as fertilizer.
4. SWEEP FOR ANY OBJECTS IN YOUR LAWN
If a large object remains in your lawn in the same place from September to March, it could leave a dead spot in your grass. Instead of letting the object sit there, gather it and any other standing materials from your lawn. This includes children’s toys, lawn care tools, summer lawn decorations, and more.
If possible, use any collected organic detritus from your lawn and contribute it to your compost pile along with the dead leaves. Sticks and other organic debris will help make the compost that much more rich.
5. MAKE SURE YOUR SOIL HAS MOISTURE
Soil can lose nutrients if it becomes too dry and brittle. While the grass does not take in moisture as it does in the spring and summer, your soil still needs water.
Make sure the soil has a fine layer of moisture added to it periodically. Use a moisture meter in your lawn to gauge the water levels. If the soil is registering as particularly dry, use a hose to apply a generous amount of water to the entire layer of dirt.