A Pennsylvania winter can bring several inches of snow that will sit for weeks or even longer. Even in years with relatively less snow, it still impacts your lawn. You may not notice it until spring arrives and dead, damaged spots show up, or the lawn doesn’t green up like you hope it would.
If you’ve fertilized, watered, cleaned away the leaves, and mowed your lawn before the first snow, you’re not in the clear just yet. Lawn care during the winter is still vital, especially when you see what happens as that blanket of snow remains in place.
What’s Happening to Your Lawn?
Temperatures drop, flakes fall, and soon there is a foot of snow on your grass. What’s happening as this is occurring?
- Grass Blades Freeze: One of the first impacts of dropping temperatures is the freezing of grass blades. That means walking on it is like fracturing the grass, causing damage and breakage that requires repair in the spring months.
- Snow Mold Can Occur: Snow mold can be white, gray, or pink in color, often seen as patches on the grass once the snow melts. It’s caused by moisture that’s trapped on the surface of the grass often because the area is covered, such as due to that pile of leaves you never got a chance to rake up.
- Nitrogen Builds Up: Falling snow captures ambient air nitrogen and preserves it above the soil. Once the snow melts, that nitrogen moves into the soil, providing a nice boost of nutrients that may act as a fertilizer in the spring months.
- Rock Salt Damages the Grass: As you try to treat the driveway, so your car doesn’t end up in the ditch, remember that rock salt typically burns grass unless you use an all-natural or eco-friendly option. Avoid putting it down right along the edges of your lawn if possible. Learn More…
- The Grass Remains Dormant: To conserve energy, the grass becomes dormant. The snow helps to hold in moisture levels deep into the soil, allowing the grass to have a necessary source of moisture once spring arrives.
Get Your Lawn Care Services in Place Now
As your grass stays dormant, start your planning for the spring. Having a professional test your soil, create a plan for adding nutrition to your grass, and create a treatment plan for pests now. This will help you be one step ahead of the process this spring. Greenskeeper offers service programs designed to support any needs. Give us a call and talk to us about your grass concerns this winter. Our team is ready to help you create a green, healthy lawn as soon as spring arrives.
Let us help you with all the lawn repair needs you have this spring. Call GREENSKEEPER at (215) 938-8440. You can also contact us using our online form and get a free quote now.
