Winter Preparation for your Lawn is like a Massage

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Winter Preparation for your Lawn is like a
Massage
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As I write this article I realized that taking
care of your lawn is an ongoing effort similar to
the taking care of your skin. You would take care
of your skin by applying moisturizers,
exfoliation, and even going for a massage.
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For your lawn you would apply fertilizers, get
core aeration or dethatching, mowing the lawn (at
the right height) and raking up the leaves or
debris. The result is a healthier lawn and
increasing the curb appeal of your home.
Similarly, people are attracted to people who
look put in an effort to keep healthy and look
good (moisturizers, facial massages, working out,
etc.).
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Now that summer is over, chances are that summer
has taken a toll on your lawn because of drought,
disease, insects or weeds or all of the above
which can make your lawn look thin and patchy
(translation ugly).By preparing your lawn for
the winter (aka massage), you are rejuvenating
and protecting the grass roots for the winter.
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Unlike a massage, you dont necessarily need an
expert to help you prepare your lawn. With a
little work and advice from us, this is something
you can complete within a day.Here are some
simple tips for getting your lawn back into
shape, preparing it for the winter survival and a
quick green-up in the spring.
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Lawn Tips for WinterHelp and heal damaged lawns
by fertilizing damaged areas in turf will
recover more quickly with two applications of
fertilizer in the fall. The first application
should be made in early fall (early September)
with a high nitrogen content and this will help
the turf recover from damage during the growing
season. The second application (mid to late
October) should be in late fall with a high
phosphorous content and this will help with root
growth.
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Repair extensive turf damage or loss by
overseeding distribute the desired seed mixture
in a uniform manner in two directions and make
sure the grass seed is in contact with the soil
by core aerating before spreading the grass seed
and roll the area after seeding. In addition, do
not forget to water the seeded areas frequently
to ensure good germination.
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Controlling thatch (grass clippings/debris)
dethatch the lawn before you overseed and apply
the first application of the fertilizer as thatch
can harbor disease-causing organism and makes
your lawn more prone to winter injury. You can
dethatch by using core-aeration or dethatching
(using a machine or a rake). The benefit of core
aeration is that you break up the thatch and
bring up soil containing microorganisms that help
break down the thatch. In addition, the holes
also help with soil-to-contact with both grass
seeds and fertilizers.
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Remove fallen tree leaves by not removing the
fallen leaves, your lawn will not get sunlight
and will eventually die. The alternative to
removing leaves is to pulverize the leaves with a
mover and let them decompose on your lawn. Dont
forget to sharpen the blades of your lawnmower!
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Last lawn cut at the right height raise the
mowing height slightly in the fall as grass root
depth is proportional to mowing height the
longer the grass leaves, the deeper the roots.
Longer grass blades also provide some insulation
for the crown (growing point) of the grass plant.
However, too long of length will encourage winter
diseases.
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However if you lawn is beyond repair, now is also
a good time to re-sod your lawn. The cool Fall
weather is a great time to re-sod your lawn
because grass is sensitive to heat. This also
creates the opportunity for the new sod to
develop its root systems well so that when spring
comes, the grass is well established and can grow
vigorously.
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Dont delay and take advantage of good growing
conditions to help your lawn recover from the
summer. With this preparation your lawn will
survive the winter better, green up earlier in
the spring and have deep roots that will help it
withstand next years summer drought. For even
more information on preparing your lawn for
winter, please contact us and we will be more
than happy to help you out.  
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