As summer ends and the weather cools down (hopefully), September is the perfect time to prepare your lawn for a lush and healthy next year. Winter lawn care involves three important steps: aerating the soil, adding compost and seeds to thin areas, and taking care of the grass. Here’s how to do it:
Lawn Care Preparation Tips For Winter
Step 1: Cut the Grass Short
Trim your grass down to 1 to 1½ inches. This makes it easier to aerate the soil and helps you figure out how much compost to use. If your grass is taller than 3 inches, cut it in small increments over a few mowings to avoid stressing the plants. This step is crucial for getting your lawn ready for winter.
Step 2: Aerate the Soil
Aerating is an essential part of preparing your lawn for winter. Do this on a day when the soil is moist, not too wet, as the aerator’s tines won’t work well in dry ground. Make a couple of passes around the lawn’s edges first, so you have room to turn the machine as you go back and forth over the rest of the lawn.
Step 3: Add Compost
Where the grass is thin, spread a half-inch layer of aged compost. Hold a shovelful of compost and sprinkle it evenly, then use a leaf rake to work it into the soil. Make sure your compost is dry, crumbly, and cool to the touch. If it smells and it’s hot, it’s not suitable for your lawn.
Use a rotary spreader to distribute the fertilizer and, if required, the pelletized lime. Fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are great for stimulating root growth, but follow the soil test’s recommendations for the best mix for your lawn.
Only open or close the spreader when it’s in motion to prevent over-fertilizing in one spot. Hire a lawn care expert if you’re not sure what to do.
Step 5: Plant More Grass
Fill the spreader with grass seed, but set it to distribute about two-thirds of what the bag recommends to account for overlapping passes. Spread the seed evenly over the compost.
Just like with fertilizing, open or close the hopper while the spreader is moving. For larger areas, you can save time by renting a power over seeder that slices the turf and plants the seeds, eliminating the need for the next step.
Step 6: Mix and Water
Use a leaf rake with its tines facing up to mix the seeds into the compost. Water lightly, 5 minutes at a time, two to three times a day, until the seeds sprout. Afterwards, water once a day for 15 to 30 minutes.
When the existing grass reaches 3 inches, mow it again and collect the clippings. After the leaves have fallen, trim the grass back to 1½ inches for its winter rest. Remember, you can always hire a Myrtle Beach lawn care professional to help you prepare your lawn before the cold season arrives.
Get started today and transform your lawn for the winter! Call Conner’s Lawn Care Service now.
Conner’s Lawn Care Service
Myrtle Beach, SC
843-504-4901
http://connerslawncare.com/
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