The Canadian winter can be especially hard on your lawn. Your grass can experience bouts of freezing rain, snow buildup, ice, and freeze and thaw cycles. Fortunately, with a little work, you can make sure your lawn survives the Canadian winter with little to no damage. Here are just a few of the things you should do to take care of your lawn this fall to prepare it for dormancy.
Mow Until Frost
Even when the temperatures drop, you should continue to mow your lawn to approximately 1.0 inch in length until the last leaves have fallen. This will ensure that the leaves don’t suffocate the lawn and the grass is left at a good length to keep it healthy during cool climates.
Rake Up the Debris
Raking your lawn is good for more than just removing dead leaves. It’s also good for controlling the thatch. Too thick a thatch and your grassroots won’t get enough water and nutrients. Thick layers can also hold too much water over the winter, trapping in moisture and resulting in a disease called “snow mold”. The dead leaves also contain phosphorous and nitrogen that can run off into storm drains and impact our water supply.
Aerate Your Lawn
As your lawn prepares for the winter, it also enhances its roots. Perforating the soil with small holes can help air, water and nutrients penetrate deeper into the roots to increase root growth and minimize thatch build-up.
Weed
Leaving weeds in the hope that they will die off from the cold will only backfire. Most weeds leave their seeds in the soil and will only sprout again come spring with the right conditions. To kill the weeds for good, apply an organic herbicide now and in the springtime again. Just be careful to avoid plants that you don’t want to kill.
Over Seed
Fall is a great time to seed your lawn, especially if you have any burnt or bald spots. To ensure you have enough time for the seeds to grow before the frost, start overseeding as soon as the temperatures start to dip in late August and early September. This will promote quick grass germination just before the growth slows down.
Fertilize
Adding a natural fertilizer will ensure you find a green, lush lawn come spring. Fertilizing in the fall time can help the grassroots stay healthy during winter so that the grass will come in quicker in the spring. Faster grass growth also equals fewer weeds. If you have compost ready to use, now’s the time to add it to give your grass all the nutrients it needs come spring.
Tired of maintaining your lawn season after season? Now you don’t have to. We can help ensure that your lawn survives the winter and comes out looking its best next spring. At Instant Lawns, we can provide all the expert lawn care you need year-round. Contact us today for a free quote.
