So what exactly do you mean, “Winterize my yard…”?
Winter officially begins on the 21st of December, so there’s still some time to prepare your lawn for the winter; not much time, but some. That doesn’t mean to wait until the 20th of December to begin prepping (note to the “last minute crowd”…lol). All joking aside, if at all possible, it’s a good idea to get ready for spring sooner than later. Your lawn will thank you come spring.
After a long hot summer, your lawn needs this time of the year (fall and winter) to rejuvenate for the warm months to come. What may seem like a daunting task when it comes to winterizing your grass, really isn’t as difficult as you may have thought.
Here are a few tips for you to consider as we move closer into the winter:
- Mow your grass one last time on your mowers highest setting. This is a very safe approach as cutting your grass too low can put a lot of added strain on your lawn and at this time of year, the higher grass length protects it from the colder temperatures.
- Aerate your lawn. This process places holes in your soil loosening the ground making it easier for fertilizer and water to feed your grass. Check with the garden center in your area about aerator rentals or even purchasing manual aerators.
- Fertilize your lawn. Giving your grass that last fertilizing treatment for the season will give your yard that needed strength for the warm months ahead. Also, check with a garden center in your area for more insight on which fertilizer to select.
- Lastly, rake up those leaves. No one likes raking up leaves as we all know, but it’s a must. During these colder months, a carpet of leaves on your lawn can prevent needed sunlight from getting through and can also allow for diseases such as, brown patch and rust disease to set in. It’s imperative to be proactive on this one to keep your lawn healthy.
These are just a few tips that hopefully help keep your yard strong through these fall and winter months. Here in the lovely state of Maryland, we still have a few warm days left in the forecast, so let’s keep it beautiful!
@lawnsbymm