Why Winter Lawn Care is a Thing?

“Winter lawn care! Come on! Is that the new marketing trick?” you may think.

No, we are not kidding. Winter lawn care is real. You may have prepared for the winter by blowing the dead leaves away from your lawn. That’s a good start.

Perhaps you have even aerated your turf and fertilized it by the end of November. That’s even better; and, if you have asked people not to walk on your lawn, then we should pay you lunch!

That said, are you completely done for the winter season? 

The short answer is “NO,” and here is why.

Why on Earth Winter Lawn Care?

It’s not because it’s winter that nature is dead. You would be wrong thinking that you can forget your lawn until Spring because things shift during winter.

A lot is going on in your soil. 

All the energy and good microbial life that the plant needs are concentrated in the root system. Your lawn is dormant but undoubtedly not dead. It has merely adapted to colder temperatures and shorter days in Chester County, PA. 

Although you probably noticed that your lawn changed its color, it is a natural phenomenon during winter. There is nothing you can do against Mother Nature on that one.

That said, there are a few things we encourage you to do to make sure the dormancy period is optimized for a vivid springtime.

Winter Lawn Care & Snow?

In our latitudes, you can expect snowfalls during winter. Most people think that you should remove snow from your yard, mostly if snow covers lawns for a few consecutive days.

Wrong.

It is quite the opposite. Leave snow cover your lawn. By all means, do not touch it. 

Why?

Snow coverage acts as a blanket. It protects and insulates the plants and their roots from cold winds or ice. When cold winds blow in Chester County, PA, they can be dry and cold, and that can impact your lawn and cause dehydration, and that is for sure, not desirable. A few inches of snow protect your lawn from that effect.

If you want to remove snow, just remove it on your walkway or driveway. Try to avoid touching your turf at all times. If you know that Chester County will get a few inches of snow, try to mark your walkway or driveway borders at the junction of your lawn.

If you throw salt, keep it for your driveway and walkway only. Try to avoid your turf as well. Salt will burn your lawn. During the colder season, a handful of salt thrown inadvertently on your lawn will have catastrophic consequences for the plant’s wellness.

Ultimately, do not walk on your lawn. Compacted snow can compress the plants, which will be detrimental to your lawn’s wellness. So if you want to play with the kids, avoid your lawn area as much as possible, which is easier said than done, very obviously!

What to Do In Case We Do Not Get Snow?

If your interaction with your lawn is limited during snow episodes, things are different when the snow melts. 

When your lawn is not covered by snow, you may consider the never-ending process of removing dead leaves, branches, and other debris that wind blew on your property.

If your soil is frozen, avoid walking on it. In case you need to remove leaves, branches, and other debris from your yard, hold on until frost has melted.

Walking on a frosted lawn will damage it and create pockets of dead spots. Typically, the plant is frozen and breaks under pressure, and that’s bad.

As you will have to de-ice your walkways and driveway, the same comment applies: Do not throw salt on your lawn; otherwise, it will create a physiological drought that the plant will not tolerate. 

So, if you want to avoid dead spots, try to avoid throwing salt on the border or your walkway or driveway. Be extra careful during the entire operation. If there is a lateral wind, try to factor that constraint in the overall process.

Your Winter Lawn Care Takeaways!

Here are your key points to remember and apply:

• Leave the snow cover your lawn. Snow will protect your lawn. Do not throw salt on your lawn or remove snow with a shovel. If you can, minimize transit on your lawn area. Compacted snow can be detrimental to your lawn’s wellness.

• Remove debris, branches, and leaves from your lawn. Avoid doing it if there is frost on your lawn. Walking on a frosted lawn can be detrimental and create dead spots.

• If you want to de-ice your walkways and driveway, avoid throwing salt on your lawn. Salt can create a physiological drought that will kill your lawn during the colder season.
• Ask people to use your walkways and driveway. Walking on snowed or iced turf can create dead spots.

As always, if you have more questions about winter lawn care or any other topic concerning your lawn, leave us a comment! In the meantime, enjoy the season with your family and stay safe.