How can I protect my lawn during winter months?
As we know lawn is the heart of a garden, during winter caring for lawn is crucial to ensure it stays healthy and thrive in spring. Here are some key tips to make your lawn protected during winter months:
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Mowing Before Winter: You should slowly mow your grass shorter during the last few mowing sessions before winter, but not too short. The ideal height should be 2-2.5 inches.
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Remove Debris: If there are large pieces of leaves, sticks, straw and other debris remove them before the first frost arrive to prevent strangulating the grass and promoting mold growth.
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Aerate the Lawn: Aeration in late fall is necessary to improve air circulation in roots and provide access to water and nutrients.
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Proper input of Fertilizer: Use a winter-specific fertilizer with high potassium content in late fall to strengthen the grass roots for the cold weather.
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Avoid Foot Traffic: Consistent walking on the lawn can damage grass can wear down the grass and damage the lawn. Try to avoid daily activities and invest in a foot traffic resistant grass.
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Water accordingly: Water only if the soil is very dry as grass needs less water in winter.
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Management of Snow Accumulation: Avoid heavy snow accumulation on the lawn, as it can lead to compaction of soil and damage plants.
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Weed control: Apply pre-emergent herbicides in fall to kill winter weeds. It can help you to make lawn maintenance easier.
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Overseeding: If your lawn has bare patches, overseeding is the easy way to fill in and improve the density of grass in fall.
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Pruning : prune shrubs and trees to ensure adequate sunlight reaches the lawn. Trim back overhanging branches to maintain structural integrity.