The northeastern winters across the United States are known to be harsh. All the states in this part of the country experience their fair share of winter storms. Hardy eastern white pine trees dot the many streets, and the lawns are covered with cool season grasses. The most common grass types include Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass.
While you keep busy during the fall months with aerating, fertilizing, mowing, and all other fall lawn care activities, the winter months are all about ensuring that the lawn sleeps well and grows strong with deep roots underground.
Lawn Activities You Should Do and Avoid During Winters
Remove Sprinklers, Avoid Heavy Equipment, Snow Piles, and Unnecessary Foot Traffic -If you haven’t done so already, turn off your faucets, keep away your sprinklers and hoses, and protect your spigots and valves. Also, avoid heavy foot traffic, snow piles, or equipment on your turf as they can mat the grass down and cause barren spots.
Eco-Friendly Ice Melters – Frozen grass blades can break easily under pressure and cause an accident. Though salt should be avoided for ice melting, eco-friendly ice melters help create cracks in the snow and ice, allowing it to be removed manually.
Fungicides in Winter – Diseases like pink-snow mold are common to cool season grasses. These colder weather diseases are common in the northeast as well as the Midwest. They typically appear when the weather is cool and wet. They show up in places with snow piles and on close-cut turf, and freshly seeded lawns. They don’t usually need any intervention and can disappear on their own before colder months. Raking the affected areas, applying moderate amounts of nitrogen fertilizer, and preventive fungicides can curb this disease.
Soil Testing and Liming – If you notice barren patches, excessive weeds, or lawn moss, chances are your soil is highly acidic. This can be rectified easily by liming. It’s a good idea to get a soil test done once every three to five years to check the soil balance before you decide to apply lime. Though liming is ideal in the spring and fall seasons, it can also be applied at other times during the year. Just ensure not to apply it on the lawn that is covered with frost.
Winter Pest Control – Though your lawn goes dormant, winter pests don’t. Pests like voles, moles, and gophers are found in plenty in the northeast and can create havoc for your lawn. Follow the necessary steps or get in touch with your lawn care professionals to stop them from destroying your lawn.
Help Your Lawn Stay Strong this Winter
Whether it’s picking up equipment, liming, melting ice, or pest control, every action you take towards caring for your lawn during winter helps it stay strong and ready to face the springtime sunshine in its healthiest shades of green. Take care of your lawn now and reap rewards throughout the year.
Check out our service programs or call GREENSKEEPER at 215-938-8440. You can also contact us using our online form for a free quote.
