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Today we are sharing some simple techniques to restore your lawn after winter!
With snow, ice and the cold temperatures, your lawn takes a beating throughout the winter season.
If you don’t want to start off spring with dead patches and torn up turf, use these techniques to make sure your lawn is looking its best for the warm weather ahead.
Simple Techniques to Restore Your Lawn After Winter
Clean Up the Debris
Those winter storms probably scattered tree branches, leaves and other debris across your yard. Getting all the debris out of the way lets you see the exact damage that was done to the grass. Look at your plants and shrubs. If some didn’t survive the winter, remove them. If they have, you’ll have to trim the branches so that spring can bring along new growth.
Get Rid of Any Dead Grass
Once your yard is cleared, it’s easy to see the patches of grass that didn’t make it through the cold. Since the dead grass doesn’t have roots anchoring it into the soil, it’s easy to just pull out with your hands. If you have a bigger yard, try using a rake to pull up the dead patches and get them out of the way.
Aerate the Soil
Snow can really pack down your yard, and so can any foot traffic. This makes it hard for the roots to get the nutrients they need to grow. You can either poke holes in your lawn or use a plug aerator to get the topsoil to the condition it needs to be in. I have used these things on my shoes for many years! This is good for smaller areas.
Eliminate Weeds
If your yard is clear and aerated, things are going to slowly start to grow back. If you see any weeds popping up, start pulling them the instant you see them. Spray weed killer over the lawn or try a homemade version if you’re not a fan of using the harsh chemicals that some weed killers use. It’s crucial that you do this before watering or fertilizing the lawn, as you don’t want to give the weeds more nutrients to get out of control.
Reseed
Make sure the temperatures are high enough before you start this. Frost must be thawed, and the ideal soil temperature is around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Till the entirety of your lawn, up to around four inches deep. If there are any debris, weeds or anything else, rake them out to remove them.
If you trust your hands to scatter seed evenly, the simplest way is to use them. There are also mechanical seeders if you’re not sure how even you’ll be able to scatter, or if you have a bigger lawn. Slightly rake the area so they aren’t just sitting on top of the soil. The areas where seeds are scattered will need watered daily to make sure they grow.
If your problem areas are since they’re normally shaded, you’ll want to wait until it’s consistently warm, as that area will be cooler than the rest. However, you also want to make sure it’s before the tree canopy really starts to fill out, if you’re in a more wooded area and the trees cast a lot of shadows on your lawn.
Fertilize
Keeping your lawn fertilized is essential for making sure grass reaches full potential. Knowing the right fertilizer to use takes some research and work. A soil test can determine what would be the best one for your lawn. A professional lawn service can also help you decide which fertilizer would work well for the specific soil type in your area.
Keep Maintaining It
A lawn isn’t just something you can work on for a few weeks and then let it go for the summer. It is something that needs to be maintained especially through the Winter. It requires upkeep so that it looks its best. The lawn length should stay around three inches so that it doesn’t dry out. Mowing should be done at regular intervals so that the grass doesn’t get out of control. Also, be sure you don’t fertilize too often, as that can lead to rampant weed growth and pest infestations.
Your lawn should be something that looks good and you take pride in. It ups the curb appeal of your house and is just plain pleasant to look at. A lawn can recover even after the toughest winter.
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Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis says
Great tips! The cold weather definitely takes a toll on your lawn even in Florida. Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis
Nicole Labonte says
Saw your YouTube video and was very impressed with your lawn recipe. Could use your expertise, knowledge & tips. Also want to visit all your other videos. Thank you.
Alexis says
Hi! I am glad you found my video and liked the lawn food recipe! Welcome to Chemistry Cachet 🙂