Get on Top of Winterizing Your Lawn This Year
The northeast is currently going through its annual season change from fall to winter. As the evening temperatures drop to near freezing, many homeowners are ready to spend the cold months bundled up indoors. Before you call off yard tasks for the season, it is best not to skip winterizing your lawn this fall.
Why Winterizing Your Lawn is Important
As the season changes, so do your lawn’s needs. Once the temperatures start to fall, your grass needs different nutrients than it did in the spring to adequately prepare for and survive the winter months.
Steps to Winterize Your Lawn
Know what type of grass you have.
The first step in preparing the grass for the winter is to know what type it is. Cool-season grasses are the most common in New Jersey. It is recommended these grasses receive a winter fertilizer treatment in October or November.
Clean up the backyard.
Before winter hits, homeowners should remove debris, furniture, and toys from the lawn. If you have an abundance of leaves, these should be raked or mowed to prevent them from suffocating the grass.
Mow it to the right height.
At the end of the fall, it is a good idea to mow the grass shorter than its traditional summer season height. If your grass is too long going into the winter, it has a higher risk of disease and damage from frost and freezing.
Pick a winter fertilizer.
Winter lawn fertilizers or winterizers contain more potassium than other fertilizers. Potassium encourages root health and aids in winter survival.
Aerate the lawn.
Aerating a lawn allows air, fertilizer, moisture, and nutrients to seep deeper into the soil and reach the roots. This can be accomplished with an aerator or by using a spade to pull plugs of dirt out of the ground.
Apply cool-weather grass seed.
Now is also the time to apply cool-weather seed. Overseeding in the fall produces healthier grass come spring, which will overcrowd weeds and prevent them from spreading.
Rake and water the lawn.
If there are any clumps, take a rake over the yard to break the dirt up. Afterward, water the grass so the ground is damp. Deep watering in the evening also helps prevent winter lawn frost.
If you need additional advice on how to keep your grass in top shape all year long, contact the professionals at Perennial Lawn Care today!
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