Winter Lawn Care Tips
09 December 2024
There can be no denying that winter is probably the least intense time of year when it comes to caring for your lawn. However, winter lawn care is still important, particularly if you want your garden to look it’s best from the moment that spring arrives.
As with any of the months in the lawn care year, you should be adapting your lawn care regime to the conditions in your garden, rather than to a date on a calendar.
Should You Mow Your Lawn In Winter?
If conditions allow and if the grass is growing, then yes, you should keep mowing. Do remember that frosty weather could be right around the corner so keep those cutting blades nice and high. Provided the grass is at a reasonably uniform length, it will look good even if it is a bit longer than you would normally maintain it.
NEVER try to mow your lawn if it is waterlogged or frosted. You’ll do far more harm than good.
The greater the combined surface area of all those blades of grass, the more able your lawn will be to take advantage of that all important sunlight. Sunlight facilitates photosynthesis which is the process plants use to convert carbon dioxide and water into nutrients. The shorter days of winter restrict the amount of available sunlight and so sensible gardeners compensate for this by allowing grass to grow a wee bit longer and by applying treatments to boost metabolism. More on that later……..
Mower Maintenance
Winter is the ideal time to give your mower a thorough once-over. Depending on the make and model you have, you may want to change filters, clean spark plugs and check connections. You will definitely need to clean and sharpen the blades. If you are not mechanically minded, then book your machine in with your local mower repair shop. It will feel good to start your spring lawn care regime with a mower that runs smoothly and performs beautifully.
Moss Control
Moss thrives in a mild wet winter and can potentially start to outcompete lawn grasses. In spring and autumn, when the grass is actively growing, lawn care professionals use a technique known as scarification to comb moss out of a lawn. However scarification is not suitable for the winter months.
In winter, it’s important to be mindful that the grass plants are already under stress from cooler soil temperatures and shorter daylight hours. However, applying regular winter lawn treatments can help to suppress moss growth.
A treatment containing Iron (Fe) serves three main purposes in winter lawn care.
1. Moss plants severely dislike iron and will shrivel and die when it comes into contact with their foliage.
2. Iron is a major component in chlorophyll, the green pigment that allows plants to harvest sunlight and turn it into energy. Adding iron to your lawn in the form of a foliar treatment will result in a greener, more vibrant colour and give the plants a wellbeing boost.
3. Plants use iron in various processes to help them absorb other nutrients. This in turn helps the plants to cope better with stressors such as frost.
Winter Lawn Repairs
Winter soil temperatures are generally too cool to attempt lawn repairs using seed. If your lawn has been badly damaged by wear and tear it may be possible to repair ragged edges using turf. However, unless you can be absolutely certain that the turf seed mix matches the combination of grass species in your lawn, you could be seeing that repair for several months to come.
Edging your lawn, raising the cutting height and mowing stripes or patterns into your lawn will improve its looks until spring time when you can make good any unsightly areas.
What Not To Do To Your Lawn In Winter
It’s all very well us reminding you which lawn care jobs need doing over the winter months. What about those things you should avoid doing?
• Try not to walk on your lawn if it is frosted or waterlogged. If you absolutely can’t avoid stepping on to it, try to use planks or boards to spread your weight.
• Do not leave anything on your lawn for more than 24 hours - good ventilation and access to daylight are crucial for plant health at this time of year. Sweep up leaves, tidy away toys and pick up pet mess.
• Never remove more than one third of your lawn’s height in one mowing session. Scalping your lawn at any time of year will stress the plants, but in winter they will be more susceptible to damage and disease.
• Be careful not to apply feeds or treatments that are not suitable for winter use. Using a spring-summer feed in the winter months could result in weak, sappy and unhealthy growth.
Help With Winter Lawn Care
If you are not sure how to manage your lawn in winter, which treatments to apply or how to control moss, please ask a member of the UK Lawn Care Association for help.
The UKLCA is a collaboration of independent lawn care professionals from all over the UK who have the knowledge, experience, equipment and products to help you achieve your perfect lawn at any time of the year.
Click here to find an independent lawn care professional near you.
Useful Links
Five simple ways to make lawn care easier
https://www.uklawncare.net/news/49/5_simple_ways_to_make_lawn_care_easier
When is the best time to start a lawn care programme?
http:// https://www.uklawncare.net/news/46/when_is_the_best_time_to_start_a_lawn_care_programme
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