Winter Lawn Care Advice

November 28, 2012

With winter pretty much here, many homeowners will be making the final preparations in their gardens; pulling out the dying bedding plants and giving the flower beds a final weed.  It is also essential at this time of year to give your lawn some attention, whilst following a few rules, to ensure that it is in the best possible condition when spring returns.

Traffic levels

During the winter period grass plants will stop actively growing.  As a result they are not able to repair themselves when damaged, until they begin growing again in the spring time.  It is therefore a good idea to keep your lawn traffic down to a minimum and use garden paths wherever possible. 

Cutting

You should look to give your lawn its last cut of the season in the last few weeks of October or first few weeks of November.  Before you give the lawn its final cut of the season, it is advisable to first check the weather forecast to see if there is likely to be a frost or snow in the next week or so.  If there is, avoid cutting the lawn, as it will expose the roots to the elements.  Also be sure they the ground is not too wet before you start mowing.

Clearing the lawn

Make sure that you keep the lawn free from any debris during the winter period, such as leaves, twigs and branches.  You should also remove any items that tend to be positioned on the lawn through the summer, such as children's slides or the BBQ.  If you don't then it is likely that these items will sink into the surface of the lawn throughout the winter due to the high levels precipitation. 

Aerating the lawn

Try to take advantage of spells when the lawn isn't too wet by aerating it using a spiking machine or lawn fork.  This will reduce compaction in the soil and allow better drainage.  In addition, more air will be able to access the root system, which will improve the health of your lawn. 

Considering worms

Don't underestimate just how beneficial it can be to have worms wriggling around in your soil.  Not only do they improve the structure of the soil; they also serve to add nutrients to it which helps the grass grow.  In the event you see any worms on the surface of your flower beds then pick them up and add them to the lawn area.  If you have a compost heap then you can also have a dig through it and pull out a few worms from there. 

Preparing your mower

That is pretty much it in terms of lawn care until spring; however you should also spend a little time on your mower preparing it, so it is ready for when the warmer weather returns.  Give the mower a good clean and remove any leftover lawn cuttings that will rot over the winter.  You should also bear in mind that the first cut of the spring is going to involve plenty of grass, so make sure that the blades are nice and sharp.  If you garden shed or garage suffers from a little damp then it might be a wise move to add a little grease or oil to the blades, to protect them from the moisture and prevent rust. 


Article is provided courtesy of Rolawn – the leading turf specialists in the UK.  Please visit the Rolawn site for further advice on garden lawn care, or to view their range of grass turf products.

To find a company who may assist you further, simply click on the free links located on the right hand side of the page.

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