Getting your lawn ready for winter

Green Side Up

It is only 44 days until the arrival of winter. More importantly for me, it is 133 days until spring. That means we should be getting any winterizing of plants done soon. We often think of lawn maintenance as a summer activity but fall and early winter maintenance is important for healthy spring growth. Here are a few steps that will ensure the vigorous spring growth.

Clear the lawn of leaves and other debris. Leaves left on the grass can get wet and compact to the point that a waterproof layer is formed. Add these items to your compost pile; they are good “browns.”

Even though the grass may not be visibly growing during the winter, it still requires moisture because the roots are very active. Any large objects such as lawn decorations or furniture can smother the grass and cause dead spots in the spring

For the warm season grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia, centipede and buffalo), the last mowing of the season should leave the grass one-and-one-half inches tall. Since it is never advisable to reduce the height of the grass by more than onethird it, may be necessary to gradually lower the mower blade as fall progresses toward winter. This height will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass and will prevent the grass from being damaged by drying winds.

Weeds grow faster than the turf in late fall and winter making it a good time to exercise weed control. Weeds that are allowed to grow unchecked during the winter will have taken over the lawn by spring.

If aeration is needed, it is best done while the grass is actively growing. Pre-winter aeration improves the ability of the soil to take in moisture and fertilizer. Aeration is necessary due to compaction of the soil. Compaction is dependent upon the amount of traffic the soil receives. Under normal circumstances areas with only light foot traffic may never need aeration. We often think of aeration as being needed because of thatch. A certain amount of thatch is desirable. If lawns are mowed infrequently and grass clippings are allowed to collect on the surface of the grass, thatch can become a problem.

Lawns should be fertilized in early spring and fall when the grass is not growing vigorously. Fertilization should be done prior to the first freeze. Fertilizing with a winter fertilizer will provide the grass with nutrients to promote root growth and storage of energy for the winter season. The fertilizer remains in the soil during the winter available for the roots. This results in a healthier plant in the spring.

Top dressing with a good compost has several benefits for the grass plants. The best compost will be completely decomposed organic material and be dry and crumbly with a pleasant “earthy” smell. If the compost smells bad, it is not mature and could easily spread disease to your lawn rather than supplying slow release fertilization that will improve the quality and health of the soil. Top dressing with compost will also promote soil aeration and alleviate compaction problems. It gives the soil the various minerals and microbes that it needs.

Even plants that are dormant in winter, such as turf grass will require moisture. It may be necessary to supply supplemental water during the winter depending upon the rainfall. The grass does not take up as much moisture as it does in the spring so a layer of moisture needs to be added to it periodically. It may be necessary to invest in a moisture meter to determine the need for moisture in the soil. One other factor about watering is that sprinkler systems should be checked and drained before freezing weather. This will avoid some significant aggravation when spring arrives.