Winter & Pre-Winter Lawn Care Do's and Don'ts
1 Do Store Equipment and Seed Properly
Most fertilizers and seeds can be stored in a garden shed for use the following season. Keep grass seed cool and dry, and securely seal open fertilizer bags. All products should be kept away from direct heat or flame, children and pets.
2 Do Keep Pulling Weeds
If you live in a region that doesn't get blanketed by snow, you may notice that weeds grow faster than grass in the winter. Pull the weeds by hand as soon as they pop up to avoid their spreading, since uncontrolled weed growth could kill the grass.
3 Don't Fertilize Dormant Grass
It's best to fertilize in the more temperate months of March and October, when the grass is primed to absorb nutrients.
4 Don't Use Sodium-based Products on Your Lawn
Sodium-based ice and snow removers are toxic to plants. A safe alternative is calcium chloride or sand, available in-store.
5 Don't Walk on Snow-covered or Frozen Grass
Foot traffic damages frozen grass, making it vulnerable to pests and diseases. To avoid damage, take a photo of your garden before the first snowfall to help you memorize the location of all of your hibernating greens, then avoid treading on those areas. If you can't avoid walking across the lawn, lay paver stones or a soft path of mulch or pea gravel to direct foot traffic.
6 Don't Mow After the First Frost
A fresh-cut grass blade is more susceptible to disease in cold weather. However, cool-season grasses should be mowed regularly to retain moisture.
