Now that fall is upon us and winter is rapidly approaching in the Pacific Northwest, it is extremely important to winterize your lawn. Here in the Vancouver, Camas and Washougal, Washington area, winter extremity can vary greatly, but it generally gets quite cold for at least a couple of months. Follow these simple steps to ensure your lawn stays healthy and comes back vibrant in the spring
Mowing
Once fall hits, it is generally a good idea to raise your mower about ½” to 1” higher than in summer. Since grass roots are roughly the same length as grass blades, this stimulates the roots by allowing them to grow deeper into the ground, enabling them to draw up more nutrients from the soil. For the last mow of the fall, lower your mower back down to the summer mow height; this prepares your lawn for winter and staves off damage from diseases that attack during the colder months.
Raking
It is essential to rake up any large quantities of debris that falls upon your lawn. Leaves and other debris can suffocate even the lushest of lawns. Furthermore, big amounts of debris create an overabundance of moisture, which is a breeding ground for pests and diseases. Mowing attachments can be used to mulch leaves and other debris into fine pieces, which can work well as a top dressing for your lawn. Remember: A single leaf is not the enemy (in fact, trees drop leaves to protect and feed themselves and underlying plants), but, rather, it is an overabundance of leaves on your lawn which can cause damage.
Aerating
Aerating is perhaps the most critical winterization service. Aerating relieves compaction that occurs over time and allows sunlight and air down into the soil, which stimulates root growth. Improving root growth is important because the grass roots can then reach more nutrients found deeper in the soil. In short, to aerate your lawn is to improve its health, which will improve the quality and lushness of your lawn the following year.
Fertilizing
During the fall months, lawns begin to prepare to go dormant for winter. In other words, your lawn begins to store nutrients so that it may survive these harsher months. Fertilizing in fall is an essential part of winterizing your lawn. Fertilizing feeds your lawn essential nutrients including nitrogen and potassium. During the winter months, your lawn is susceptible to various diseases because it is at its weakest state. Therefore, fertilizing will give your lawn the much-needed nutrients that will allow it to survive throughout the colder months of the year.
Urban Eden Landscaping knows that it is tough work keeping up with the demands of your lawn, but we are here to help! If you would like us to winterize your lawn or perform any other landscape services, contact us today or fill out a free estimate form online.