Changing weather conditions can create havoc on lawns, especially when the winter season hits. The unexpected snow and ice destroy your plants, trees, and shrubs, and the accompanying rains impact your lawn’s soil status. If you are a new garden owner, such scenarios can become way too overwhelming, and the suitable courses of action may not strike your mind soon.
But, instead of feeling ashamed of your anxiousness in dealing with the situations, you must take pride in knowing that you decided to begin with gardening and do some good to your property and the surroundings.
It is true that the coldest months of the year call for extra care and attention for your lawn. But, it shouldn’t be stressful if you have a landscape maintenance team on board and you remember the below-mentioned things all the time –
- Cleaning
Early winter is the perfect time to clear away debris, fallen tree branches, and other messes that can impact the free flow through the lawn. The same cleaning efforts must continue throughout the chilling season as high winds and ice continue to litter your property.
Also, when there is excessive snowfall, your bushes and shrubs can weigh down. So, removing snow becomes essential to avoid it from piling up and damaging your lawn.
- Weed Control
Weeds in the yard are not only frustrating for the homeowners but also problematic for the growth of plants. Unfortunately, you have no way to eradicate them from your garden permanently. You can pull them manually before the snow sets in and keep a tab to prevent their growth once spring starts.
But beware that you do not disturb the soil when pulling weeds. If you want to avoid this effort, let in a few weed-eating insects and battle with the overgrown weed.
- Salt Damage Prevention
Salt and melting agents you use for snow can contaminate the soil. As a result, plants roots can find it harder to absorb the contaminated water, killing large sections of greenery around the house. The issue visibly appears in late winters and early spring amongst deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs.
Fortunately, this damage is preventable. Just be strategic with the placement of snow piles and use plenty of water to flush extra salt out of the soil. An anti-desiccant spray can work as well. It prevents evergreens from drying out and provides additional protection during the entire winter season.
- Mulching
Mulching your garden in fall and winter helps your lawn throughout the year. You get a beautiful harvest in summers and excellent protection in winters. You prevent new weeds from growing and strange pests from invading your property.
With mulching, the soil structure is adequately maintained, and excess winter moisture is well-retained. Straw, wood chips, dried leaves, pine needles, and dried grass clippings make perfect mulch options.
- Aeration
Aeration refers to the process of perforating (pulling plugs) the soil on your lawn to facilitate the penetration of air, water, and other vital nutrients to the grassroots. With ample resources, grass grows deeply and becomes more resilient during winters.
Core aeration should be done in late winter/early spring before the soil temperatures warm up to improve root development.
- Fertilizers
Just as vitamins are essential for a human body to remain healthy and strong, so are the fertilizers for your grass. No matter what time of the year it is, feeding your soil with the desired nutrients will keep it healthy and your harvest productive.
For the best results, use organic and light, liquid fertilizers to avoid overwhelming your lawn that is possibly weakened and exhausted from winters.