Aerate & Fertilize
Before the first frost fall, make sure to aerate your lawn. Aerating your lawn will allow it to breathe before the grass goes dormant and relieve any compaction that has built up during the summertime.
After you’ve aerated your lawn, it’s time to fertilize. Fertilizing your lawn gives your grass the necessary nutrients it needs to prepare for winter. The grass roots absorb and store the nutrients during the winter months. Then, in the spring, your lawn reaches into those stored nutrients and allows it to grow more effectively, turning it green and lush. By having a well cared-for lawn, you’ll also help prevent weeds, pests, and diseases from moving in once it warms up.
Prepare
Ensure you have your winter lawn care plan ready well ahead of time. Once there’s a chill in the air, watch the forecast and give yourself enough time to put your plan into action before it’s too late!
Avoid Lawn Traffic
When your lawn is frosted or dormant, avoid walking on it. Even strong grass can become weak if the same path is walked over too often.
Clean Your Lawn
Have leaves begun to scatter your lawn? Your grass could suffocate before winter. Leaves that are left on the lawn could also become too wet, which can invite disease. If the leaves are not too thick or wet, mulch the leaves with your mower into dime-sized pieces to recycle the nutrients back into your lawn. If the leaves are too thick, wet, or matted down, rake them up and remove them.
Be sure to remove lawn furniture and debris from your lawn, as well as any spare logs from next to a fire pit.
