Preparing Your Lawn for Winter: Essential Tips for a Healthy Spring
As fall festivities begin to wind down and the weather begins to shift, so does your lawn care routine. Where early fall was all about repairing damage from summer by overseeding or planting a new lawn, late fall to early winter is all about preparing your lawn for an early spring green-up. The key to a quicker, healthier green up in spring starts with proper preparation in the fall and winter months.
Preparing your lawn for winter ensures stronger root systems, fewer weeds, and a healthier, more vibrant lawn when spring arrives. The following tips are practices you can do now to ensure your lawn is protected from harsh winter weather and able to bounce back quickly once spring rolls back around.
Tip #1 – Clean Up Your Lawn
Before winter sets in, it’s essential to remove fall leaves, excess thatch, branches, and any other debris from your lawn. Leaving debris on your lawn can smother the grass underneath and create an environment for disease, such as snow mold in the winter. Raking or mulching in fall leaves with your mower will not only tidy up your yard, but allow your grass to breathe and receive sunlight, which is vital for preparing it for the cold months ahead.
Tip #2 – Feed Your Lawn (If You Haven’t Already)
Fertilizing your lawn before winter is key to promoting strong root development and ensuring your grass comes back healthy in the spring. If you haven’t yet fertilized this fall, now is the time to apply Jonathan Green Winter Survival Fall Lawn Fertilizer before the ground freezes. This specially formulated fertilizer provides essential nutrients like potassium to help build a stronger root system, which will help your grass be able to withstand harsh winter weather conditions.
It’s also important to note that you should pay close attention to blackout dates (periods of time when fertilizer legally cannot be applied in each state) for your area and tailor fertilizing plans accordingly. Applying fertilizer too close to snow or rainfall can cause harmful runoff to nearby water sources. Also, applying fertilizer at the wrong time can cause damage to your lawn that will be harder to fix in spring.
Need more tips for fall fertilizing? Check out our full guide to fall fertilization here: https://www.jonathangreen.com/resources/fall-lawn-fertilizer-boost-your-lawns-health-for-winter/
Tip #3 – Mow Your Lawn
As the temperature drops, continue mowing your lawn, but gradually reduce the mowing height to around 2.5 inches. This height helps prevent your grass from becoming matted under snow and reduces the risk of mold and disease.
Regular mowing also ensures the grass stores energy properly for winter dormancy, keeping it healthy and ready to grow vigorously in the spring. For the last mow of fall, around early November, lower your mower height to 2 inches.
Tip #4 – Water Before The Ground Freezes
Even as the weather cools, your lawn still needs moisture to stay healthy. Make sure to water deeply, yet infrequently before the ground freezes. This will help your grass absorb the water it needs to stay hydrated through the winter months.
Tip #5 – Clean & Organize Lawn Tools
As the lawn care season comes to an end, take this time to clean and organize your lawn tools. Ensure that your mower, mower blades, rakes, and leaf blowers are all cleaned and stored away in a shed or garage to extend their life and maintain their effectiveness. Properly storing your equipment away now ensures it’s easy to find and ready to use when spring arrives.
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The Big Takeaway
Fall is a critical time to prepare your lawn for both winter and spring. The more time you spend caring for your lawn now, the less work you will need to do once spring rolls back around. By cleaning up debris, fertilizing, mowing, and watering now, you give your grass the best chance to survive winter and come back even stronger and greener in spring.