Prepping Your Lawn for Winter

The end of those long summer days means that cooler weather is fast approaching. While the transition to autumn means less time spent mowing your lawn, instead of skipping out on the yard work, it’s a great opportunity to prepare your grass for the colder days ahead, so it can re-emerge in the spring more lush and beautiful than ever. With your grass going dormant for the colder months ahead, here are several tips for prepping your lawn for winter.

Keep the Mowing Low

As the weather slowly starts to cool off, you’ll be mowing your lawn less and less. Gradually lower the cutting deck in order to ease the grass into a lower height. This is especially important if your grass is more than 3 inches tall. Incrementally decreasing the mowing height will help avoid stressing the blades too much and will make the aeration process much easier as well.

Clear Out Debris

Cleaning up and clearing out your lawn is an important step in prepping your lawn. Anything that comes into contact with your grass, such as fallen and decaying leaves, can potentially smother your lawn if left untreated. Rather than removing them altogether or leaving them to suffocate your lawn, the Higher Ground team likes to use them as mulch instead. We prefer to mulch the fallen debris into your lawn when mowing, as this allows the materials to break down into carbon and feed the microbes in the soil. This also helps improve your overall soil health. Just let nature do the composting for you – right below the turf!

Aerate Your Turf

Fall is a fantastic time to aerate your lawn because chances are you won’t be walking over the soil plugs. You can inexpensively rent a core aerator if you don’t own the tool yourself, and make sure to irrigate your lawn a few days before you aerate it. Use the compost you’ve collected to fill in those holes created by aeration.

Apply Pre-Emergent

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide in the fall will help prevent weeds from appearing when springtime rolls around again. This aims to stop the weeds from sprouting or germinating in the first place and reduces the time spent removing them, when and if they do show up. You typically want to begin applying pre-emergent herbicides between August and November, depending on your location. When temperatures are consistently below 70 degrees and dropping, that’s a good indicator that it’s time to begin the application.

Fertilize Your Grass

Fertilizing your lawn using potassium and/or organics helps to feed the microbes in the roots during winter dormancy. When the roots are well-fed and sustained through the cold weather, they are better prepared for a vibrant spring green-up. You may need to test your soil to determine the best fertilizer mix for your lawn’s needs, but the important part is to make sure you fertilize before the cold weather sets in. Make sure you don’t allow the spreader to dump too much fertilizer in one spot and give it a thorough, even coating.

Whether you’re a lawn care novice or a landscaping expert, Higher Ground Lawn Care & Lighting can help you in prepping your lawn for winter. Higher Ground Lawn Care and Lighting are ready to take your property to a higher level. Experience why your neighbors and businesses in University Park, TX & surrounding areas choose Higher Ground Lawn Care & Lighting to bring their property to the next level. Contact Us at (682) 206-3596 or check out our website today.