8 Lawn Care Tips for Maintaining Your Yard in the Winter

Winter brings a new set of challenges when it comes to lawn care and maintenance. The snow and ice can make outdoor chores difficult, but if you follow these 8 tips, your yard will be in great shape come springtime.

1- Mow Your Lawn as Low as Possible

The first step in winter lawn care is to mow your lawn as low as possible. Cutting the grass short will help protect it from the cold weather and make it easier to maintain. However, be sure to avoid cutting off too much of the grass, or you may stunt its growth. This will help protect the grass from frostbite and make it easier to thaw in the springtime.

2- Rake Leaves and Mulch as Needed

Now that you’ve mowed your lawn as low as possible, it’s time to rake up leaves and remove snow from driveways and sidewalks. If you have a mulching mower, there is no need to rake the grass clippings off of your yard – just let them break down naturally over time.

3- Aerate Your Lawn

Next, it’s time to aerate your lawn. This brings much-needed oxygen to the soil so that grass can continue growing in the winter months. The best year for this task is late fall or early spring. If you don’t have a lawn aerator, you can use a metal rake instead or hire a landscaping service to do the work for you.

4- Fertilize Your Lawn

It would be best if you also were fertilizing your lawn regularly. Over time, your grass will have lost its nutrients due to cold weather stress and the freezing of moisture in the soil. Fertilize your yard at least three times each winter for best results.

5- Cut Back on Watering

In the winter, you don’t need to water your lawn as often as you did in the summer. You can probably go a whole month without watering at all. If you do decide to water your property, be sure to do it in the morning so that the grass has time to dry before nightfall.

6- Fix Damage from Winter Weather

If you have any damage to your lawn from winter weather, now is the time to fix it. Patch up any holes in the ground with soil and grass seed, and reseed any areas that have been affected by snow or ice.

7- Remove All Weeds in the Fall

Before winter arrives, be sure to remove all weeds on your lawn. They can compete with grass for nutrients and make it difficult for the grass you do have to grow. Rake up any weeds taller than 3 inches so that they don’t spread out over the winter months.

8- Clear Away Dead Plants and Grass

In the winter, many plants and grass die off. The best way to clear them away is with a metal rake – be sure to wear gloves when you do it. If any stubborn weeds manage to survive through the cold weather, then use a weed remover or special weed-killing spray – but only in the spring so that you don’t harm the grass.

Now that you know how to take care of your lawn in the winter, it’s time to get started! Follow these tips, and your yard will be looking great come springtime.