Solihull, United Kingdom — Usually, winter doesn’t require back-bending efforts for lawn care. You don’t need to aerate, scarify, or overseed your lawn. However, the changes in the climate may require some tasks to be completed to push your lawn healthy forward in the spring of the upcoming year.
“Creating a beautiful lawn or providing it with outstanding care is largely about timing. Doing the right thing in the right conditions will promote the plants/grasses in your lawn and improve the lawn. The wrong thing in the wrong conditions and the lawn will head backward,” stated Jack Chapman, Kingsbury Lawn Care’s founder.
Keep Off, If Your Lawn is Mushy or Frozen!
Jack warns not to walk on the frozen grass. It is because, when the water in grass freezes, it expands and damages the grass. In such a situation, walking or working on them will further harm the grasses and lawn.
Same way, when you walk on a wet lawn, it can compact the soil tight. This prevents the grass roots from getting enough oxygen supply, which is crucial for a healthy root system when the winter is over. “Clay soil, in particular, is under these risks and should be aerated annually as a good maintenance practice,” says Jack.
The key is timing, says Jack. Choose the right conditions for lawn work. Just because there was a little dew or a brief rain shower doesn’t mean you should avoid maintenance entirely—use your best judgment when deciding when to work on your lawn.
Clean up Winter Junk
During winter, lawns get limited daylight that is imperative for the grasses to produce the food they require. With this concern in mind, you have to work to help your lawn get enough sunlight to stay healthy.
In order to support your lawn during the winter, try these things to maximize the daylights that reach your lawn.
- First, trim down any overhanging tree branches or hedges to reduce the tree shades, before bird nesting season begins.
- Leaves and debris can mask the daylight. So clean them regularly to prevent suffocation.
- Remove furniture, toys, and any other items from the lawn during the winter.
“Not frequently clearing leaves is a grave lawn care error that many homeowners make. It is understandable that it can be a hassle to work on wet grass and leaves keep falling. But making the effort is worth it. Your lawn will thank you come spring!”
Raise the Cutting Height while Mowing
Mowing your lawn may not seem like a priority in winter, but it is always crucial to mow your lawn at a higher setting throughout the year, no matter the month. With the weather being unpredictable in recent years, the lawn grass continues to grow as long as the soil temperature stays above 5°C. If the daytime temperature consistently rises, then they grow even longer. Therefore, trim your lawn at a height of 30-50mm—even if it’s midwinter.
For best results, mow your lawn on a dry afternoon. Before that make sure to brush off worm casts and clear away the winter debris. By keeping your grass at the right height, you can shape your lawn better for the spring.
Inspect Fusarium Infection in Your Lawn
Otherwise known as snow mould or fuzz, Fusarium is a serious lawn disease that can kill the affected patches of grass. It thrives in mild, damp conditions and tends to target finer grass varieties.
Though it is more common in golf and bowling greens and is rare in lawn grasses, changes in the climate have made the home lawns pick up this disease. The finer grasses that are left to grow longer are especially vulnerable to Fusarium. According to Jack, this disease is contagious—it can spread among grasses easily. So, if you’re walking across affected areas, be cautious, as you could unintentionally transfer it.
Consider Moss Treatment For Lawn Care
Your lawn needs more than one moss control treatment across the autumn, winter, and spring months. Moss thrives in the UK’s mild and damp climate. The lawns which are exposed to too much shade, face poor air movement, are on clay soils, and are in proximity of buildings are more vulnerable to moss in the UK. Due to these conditions, the home lawns are more prone to moss than the golf lawn. Make sure to give your lawn a proper moss treatment to help them thrive through winter.
Do you want to get a head start on next year? Book Kingsbury Lawn Care today, so that you won’t miss out on your winter lawn care. Kingsbury Lawn Care service includes three moss treatments between October and April. Even if moss is minimal, their services will help your lawn thrive through winter.
Speaking of the team, Kingsbury Lawn Care team holds PA1+6 qualifications and has extensive lawn care training both in-house and in various other settings. The owner Jack has a Diploma in Turf Surface Management along with 15 years of experience in lawn care, including work experience on both professional cricket pitches and bowling greens. This renowned team has received many awards including Trades Business of the Year (2018 & 2019), Highly Commended at the Tamworth Business and Community Awards (2017), and the recent ThreeBestRated® award. More information is available on their website.
