Winter lawn care tips

Winter lawn care tips

Cold, winter months give homeowners a welcome reprieve from weekly yard maintenance. While you’re warm and cozy inside, don’t forget about taking care of your yard this winter.  If you are in the Macon or Warner Robins area, follow a few simples winter lawn care tips and your lawn will be ready for spring!

How do I take care of my lawn in the winter?

winter lawn care tips

dormant lawn

Following these simple winter lawn care tips that will protect your lawn and landscape during the winter, so it will thrive when spring arrives.

First winter lawn care tip

Mowing your lawn.  When temperatures fall, your lawn in the Macon or Warner Robins area will go dormant. Mowing your lawn during this time depends on the grass type and weather conditions. Winter mowing requires extra care as it is critical not to scalp your lawn. Set the mower blade to remove no more than 1/3 of the new growth. Refrain from mowing in wet, soggy conditions or during an active frost. Wait until the lawn is completely dry to avoid damaging grass blades and roots.  Click here for an entire calendar of how to take of your lawn all year round.

Second winter lawn care tip

Remove Debris. Keep your lawn free of debris including branches, fallen leaves, toys and furniture. The weight of these objects will kill or stunt your grass during the winter. Rake dead leaves to avoid wet spots that welcome fungal diseases and ruin your turf.  Walter Reeves has some good articles on fungus.

Third winter lawn care tip

Protect Young Trees & Shrubs. Bundle young plantings with burlap to protect from the frost during harsh winter days. Remove the wrapping as soon as the temperatures rise to reduce the risk of forcing trees out of dormancy in the middle of winter.

Fourth winter lawn care tip

Practice Weed Control. Winter lawns are not a hotbed of activity. However, winter weeds can pop up. Make sure you are on a lawn care program to keep these winter weeds from germinating.  Check out all the different kind of weeds your lawn is susceptible to here.

Fifth winter lawn care tip

Reduce Traffic. Your dormant grass is susceptible to winter damage. Excessive traffic on a wet lawn is a major contributor to winter kill. Lawns do not show evidence of winter kill until the grass exits dormancy and brown patches appear. Keep pathways, sidewalks and driveways clear of ice and snow to discourage people from walking on your grass. Gently encourage family and visitors to use walkways. Your lawn will show its appreciation in the spring.  You can also consider painting your lawn.  All of the turf types in the Macon or Warner Robins area will go dormant in the winter.  Check out this article on lawn painting.

Sixth winter lawn care tip

Water. Trees, shrubs and your lawn might need water if there isn’t much rainfall. Don’t water if the ground is frozen or still wet.  Check out our articles on watering here.

Winter lawn care is neither time-consuming nor labor intensive. Take good care of your yard during the cold months, and you will be rewarded with healthy, lush grass in the spring. To find out more about the effects of winter on your plantings click here.