Winter Lawn Preparation

As the leaves fall to the ground, the days grow shorter and Thanksgiving approaches, it’s time to get your lawn ready for winter.

One of the first things you need to do is make plans to have your lawn sprinkler system winterized. We strongly recommend bringing in a professional for this job. There are areas of the winterizing job that you could do yourself but there are also areas where it would be best to let a professional with experience and safety knowledge take over. A major part of the lawn sprinkler winterization process is blowing out the lawn sprinkler system. This is the act of taking an air hose to blow out any remaining winter in the pipes and heads of the sprinkler system. Water left in the pipes can freeze and cause major damage, resulting in costly repairs. This process is not for the inexperienced. Instead, talk to a pro.

There are other things you can do to get your yard ready for the cold winter months:

·         Rake any lingering leaves. Even if you’ve done your big fall raking, go around the yard and rake those last remaining leaves. Leaves can smother a grass and invite lawn disease.

·         Late fall fertilizing. One last feeding late in the fall will help roots survive winter hibernation and allow for a quicker transition from hibernation in the spring.

·         Mow one last time with a mulching mower. Having a mulching mower is great for breaking down leaves into mulch and giving your grass one last time before winter. Mulch can be useful to plants in your garden. After the first hard freeze, apply mulch to your plants, about two to four inches in depth.

·         Create a compost pile. Pick a location close to your garden. You can use leaves and lawn clippings and garden soil. This will eventually make a great garden fertilizer.