With the foliage transforming from vibrant green to fiery orange and yellow, it’s safe to say that fall is in full effect. As the seasons go through their routine changes, those changes can transform the look of your lawn. Some of those shifts can be for the better, some for the worse.
Once the temperatures drop, you’ll notice how, just like the leaves, your lawn begins to transform. A lush landscape is prone to drying and wilting with shifts in air quality and inclement weather during the cooler seasons. But the good news is that this seven-step guide to winterizing your lawn can help lessen the damage come springtime.
Test pH Levels
Before the prep work, test the levels of the soil in your garden and lawn. Neutral pH levels indicate a healthy area that may remain abundant over time. If your levels are slightly off, you can add lime products to treat acidic patches or sulfur treatments to handle alkaline spots.
Clean Things Up
Starting off the winterizing process by performing routine maintenance on your landscape means removing unsightly weeds, caring for trees and shrubbery, and cutting the grass down to a workable level.
Apply Fertilizer
Prioritize using a specific fertilizer for winterizing lawns, as these formulas contain a higher potassium content. Winter fertilizer will also strengthen plants under stress by supplying additional nutrients.
Let the Lawn Breathe
Aerating the lawn will allow water, air, and other beneficial nutrients to seep down to the roots. One of the easiest ways to do this is through the use of spike aerators. These “sandals” will poke holes into the soil of high-traffic landscapes.
Dispense Grass Seed
Next, apply the grass seed of your choice onto your prepped lawn. The optimal time to foster new grass growth is during the day when the temperature is a comfortable 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cover the Plant Beds
Insulate flower beds during the cooler seasons by adding mulch onto topsoil. You can also repot smaller plants and bring them indoors to help them survive.
Remove Additional Debris and Branches
Removing leaves and branches isn’t the most entertaining task, but it’s vital to your lawn’s health. Did you know that raking can remove the layer of dead grass that affects the landscape?
Get in the Winter Mindset
Lastly, go over all of your hard work to ensure that you didn’t miss anything. You’ll want to put all of your outdoor features to bed before settling indoors for the season.
This seven-step guide to winterizing your lawn prepares it for the harsher seasons to shield your landscape during weather shifts. They say the best time to treat the terrace is during the fall, so it won’t hurt to get started.
