You did it

Looking after your lawn turf during the summer is a relatively easy task and many homeowners even find it quite relaxing.  This, however, changes during the winter months when the poor weather arrives and tending the lawn suddenly becomes a chore.  Unfortunately, if you want your turf to look its best when the warmer weather arrives, you do still need to pay it some attention through the winter.  Our six helpful tips below should go a long way to ensuring a green lawn when the cold weather abates.

1.     Cutting

You may be tempted to cut your lawn one last time right before the winter kicks in and then leave it until spring.  Whilst we appreciate that mowing a wet lawn is no fun, you should make the effort to cut the lawn at least a few times at this time of year.  To reduce the number of times you have to cut it you can drop the mower down so that it is set to 0.5 or 1.0 inches.  Do not cut any shorter than that, otherwise you run the risk of scalping the turf and leaving it exposed to the elements, which may kill it off.

2.     Removing items

During the warmer months, most garden lawns will have certain items placed on them, such as the kid’s slide or perhaps some flower tubs.  Be sure to remove these as winter approaches to avoid patches appearing.  It is also a good idea to rake and brush away leaves and twigs which can attract insects, mice and other harmful pests.

3.     Managing traffic

Wherever possible you should try to avoid walking on your lawn during winter – especially if the lawn is very wet.  This is because the turf is more or less dormant throughout the colder months and won’t grow to repair damaged areas.  As such, it can easily become worn away in areas, which may take a long time to recover or even need reseeding.

4.     Clearing snow

When you take out your shovel or snow plough to clear pathways around the home and the drive, also take a little time to clear off your lawn.  You don’t have to do a perfect job, but do try to remove a decent amount.  This will prevent the weight of the snow from causing compaction and also reduce damage to the grass when it freezes.   

5.     Aeration

Try to give your turf some aeration before the first freeze.  This can be done using either a special spiking tool designed for the job or a simple garden fork.  Repeat this process a few more times through the cold snap when conditions allow.

6.     Watering

Whilst you may think that the weather in the winter is enough to keep your lawn turf well watered, sometimes you may actually need to get the hosepipe out or switch on your sprinklers and give it a bit extra.  This is especially the case if it is a very cold winter and the water in the soil is frozen.  Likewise you may need to water during any dry spells just as you would in summer.

(This is a guest post)

(Image supplied by author)