Prepare the winter on the lawn

This is the cold season. It is now time to prepare our homes, cars and ourselves at low temperatures. But what about our beloved garden and lawn? Winterizing your lawn and garden means keeping it thriving or alive until the next year. Contrary to what most people think, winter does not kill your lawn or your garden. During this period, grasses hibernate, like some animals in winter.

Timing is important when wintering. You do not want your lawn to be deprived of any kind of nutrients or vitamins while the soil is not yet frozen. Give your lawn and lawn time to absorb as much sunlight and other nutrients as they can.

• Collect the leaves and rid the lawn of any type of debris to allow more sunlight to be absorbed by the grass. Check with the local waste management board about garden and lawn waste disposal. There are states and places where it is illegal to include garbage in garbage cans. If you leave the toppings, mold and mildew can grow.
• You can use weed control in your lawn even if they are covered with snow. Like weeds, weeds grow again. By using weed control, the weeds would not come back in the spring.
• Another thing to check on your lawns when wintering would be the pH levels. You must achieve a balanced level of nutrients in your soil to ensure that the lawn will absorb nutrients or fertilizers from the soil and prepare for growth in the spring.
• Fertilizing the soil to prepare for winter is also important. When you are looking for a winter lawn fertilizer, it is rich in potassium. Potassium promotes root growth, not growth of leaves and flowers. It is generally recommended to fertilize the soil after September or October. If you fertilize too late, the grass may continue to grow and possibly be damaged by frost.
• Aeration is also important when wintering your lawn. The grass tends to be compressed and the packets in the soil where oxygen could be readily available to the roots. Oxygen is essential when the roots and plants break down the sugars contained in their photosynthesis. You can use a perforating core aerator, commonly used in golf courses. Apart from this, raking can also slightly aerate the soil.
• A thin layer of thatch is good for the lawn, but if the stubble exceeds more than ½ inch, it could cause problems with your lawn. This could limit the flow of air, which could eventually cause illness and fungal problems.