Prepping Your Plants / Lawn for Harsh Winter Months
Winter is almost here again! If you’ve been working all year long to keep your lawn green and lush, it’s essential to prepare it for the winter months ahead. Because let’s face it, the winter season is harsh. Plants recognize this and go into dormancy during this period. However, many homeowners make the mistake of giving their plants less attention during winter because “the plants are not growing.” It’s essential to prep your plants to provide them with the energy, nutrients, and moisture they need, ensuring your lawn not only survives winter but also grows lush and green in Spring.
#1. Remove Fallen Leaves
While you can leave fallen leaves to rot and add nutrients to your lawn, it’s important to remove them. This is because some of the leaves may be diseased and can affect the plants in your lawn. After removing them, you can use them for composting to protect your lawn and supply it with nutrients throughout winter.
#2. Add Mulch
Mulching offers a lot of benefits to plants, even during the winter. Aside from inhibiting the growth of weeds and preventing soil erosion, mulching offers additional benefits to your lawn during the winter season. It helps your plant adjust to the winter season, which affects the plants due to the constant freezing and thawing. In winter, mulching helps keep your soil temperature constant and protects your plants from the hard frost of winter. And as the mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients to your soil.
#3. Cut the Grass Short
One of the most important ways to prep your plants for winter is cutting the grass short, especially if it is taller than 3 inches. During winter, field animals such as mice protect themselves by burrowing deep into the soil. Keeping your lawn short prevents mice from destroying your lawn.
#4. Fertilize Your Lawn
Fertilizing your lawn before winter is a great way to prepare for the season. Adding fertilizer gives the plants nutrients that’ll enable your lawn to have a green, lush look the following season. However, make sure to use a slow-releasing fertilizer that releases a steady amount of nutrients over the season, so your plant is ready when Spring comes. Ensure to apply fertilizer all over the lawn and water adequately so the plants can easily absorb the nutrients.
#5. Plant Grass Seeds in Bald Spots
If you have unsightly bald spots on your lawn, now is the best time to fix them. This is because seeds planted before winter are more likely to sprout as they don’t have to compete with the invasive spring weeds. Get grass seeds suitable for cool seasons and plant them in the bare patches. But before doing that, find out the reason for your patchy lawn and fix it to avoid a recurrence.
It’s a given that your lawn needs special care and attention in preparation for the winter. With the above tips, you’d be able to prep your plants for the cold months! If you’d rather spend more time with your family during winter, you can get professional lawn care at LVHGC. Contact us today to get started!