Everything You Need to Know about Winter Lawn Care
It may be a relief to know you aren’t spending every Saturday mowing or pulling weeds out of your lawn in the winter. Most warm-weather grasses in the south go dormant during the colder months, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your grass completely unattended.
Although your lawn may look like a sea of brown now, winter lawn care is essential to watching your yard come back green and healthy in the spring. Our experts put together a list of the winter lawn care essentials, as well as some tips to keep your lawn healthy during the cold season!
Tend to Your Turf
Although you’ll still feel a nip in the air, January usually provides a few sunny, dry days perfect for knocking out some lawn care chores. If you’ve got warm-winter grasses, such as Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine, or zoysia, take a day to mow your lawn. If your grass gets too long, it can become susceptible to certain lawn diseases. Raise your mower blade height to about 2 inches before mowing. A slightly higher cut will strengthen your lawn’s ability to tolerate winter damage.
When to Prune Dormant Trees and Shrubs
Late January and early February are the best times to prune any dormant trees and shrubs. You’ll want to catch them before it gets warm enough for them to begin to bud!
Start by looking for any broken, diseased, or weakened branches. Be careful as you prune these plants! Over pruning can limit the growth, you will see in the spring, as it limits the foliage and essentially “starves” your tree. One wrong cut won’t ruin the plant, but if you have any concerns, call the experts! Our team is highly skilled at properly pruning bushes, trees, and other flowering plants.
Remove Leaves from the Lawn
While you may have already raked or mowed your lawn to get rid of leaf buildup, sometimes the warm southern Decembers can leave a few leaves hanging on until the real cold hits. You can either rake them to the edge of your yard or break them down with your lawnmower to create a natural lawn fertilizer that will break down in just a few months.
When to Fertilize in the Winter
Late February is a great time to begin springtime crabgrass preventer and fertilizer applications, but you can even wait until March or April, depending on your grass. A good rule of thumb is to aim for your last winter fertilization treatment around the time your grass is starting to turn green and begin to actively grow.
Contact us today to learn more about our fertilization treatment options!
Don’t Forget General Maintenance
Before you head back into a season of regular lawn care and maintenance, now is the time to take a look at your tools and equipment. Make sure your lawnmower blade is clean and sharpened, check to see if your sprinkler system is still functioning properly, and stock up on any tools that need to be replaced!
Bonus tip: many local garden centers will often have sales on plant material, tools, and other lawn care items before facing the spring rush. Stock up early and score some great deals!
Call the Experts at Acre Lawn and Landscape
Whether you have questions about a fertilization treatment or want to replace some flowers and shrubbery that didn’t survive the winter, our team at Acre can help. We have experience in lawn care, lawn maintenance, and landscaping design to fit your yard’s size and needs. Contact us today for questions or a quote!
