Winter is coming, and that isn’t good news for your grass. Most lawns we install are drought tolerant and therefore best suited to warm climates. This means as the soil temperature begins to drop, your grass will begin to go dormant. Winter brings a lack of sunlight and a drop in temperature, forcing your lawn to survive off its stored energy. This means a slowed growth, or no growth at all, meaning your winter lawn will be particularly susceptible to weed invasion. But it isn’t all bad news; here are our top tips and tricks for our team at ANCO Geelong.
Our top 3 ways to prepare for winter:
1- Fertilise
With the weather cooling down, the nutrients that are abundant throughout the summer begin to run out, making autumn the perfect time to fertilise your grass. Fertilising provides all the nutrients required to survive the colder months and will keep your grass looking healthy. If you’re looking to combat any specific concerns, come chat to our experts about what fertiliser will work best for you.
2- Aerate the soil
Over the summer your lawn is in peak use and can end up quite compacted. This will create problems over winter, as nutrients and water will struggle to break through this compact soil to get to the roots of your winter lawn. There is an easy solution to this; take a pitchfork and create a series of holes in your lawn. This will allow the winter moisture access to the roots, and give your fertiliser the best shot at success.
3- Stop weeds early
Weeds can become a big problem throughout winter, so it’s important to get on top of them quickly. Before you rush out to treat them, it is important to ensure you are using the right herbicide. This not only relates to the type of weeds you are treating, but also to the turf variety you have. If you are unsure about what you should be using, come in store. It’s much better to be safe than sorry.
Winter has arrived, here’s how you survive:
1- Mowing
You won’t need to mow your winter lawn anywhere near as much as in summer. The growth has slowed or come to a halt so adjust accordingly. But, when mowing your grass, consider using a catcher mower. It will reduce the build up on the grass and allow more sunlight to shine through, keeping your winter lawn as healthy as possible.
2- Sunlight
Obviously sunlight is a key ingredient in lawn growing and it’s something that’s hard to get over the winter months. But, there are still a few things you can look out for. Rake up fallen leaves and use a catcher mower so the grass isn’t covered and shaded from the sun. Continuing down this path, consider if there is any pruning that needs to be done. Any unnecessary branches that are shading your grass are just creating more work for your winter lawn.
3- Last minute tips
Avoid watering your grass, it’s likely to get enough water throughout winter and overwatering and drowning your grass is a real risk. Make sure you’re controlling the weeds. They’ll thrive over the winter months and are just one more obstacle your grass has to deal with. And finally, if winter is going to be too harsh on your lawn, consider using a frost protectant.
There are lots of simple things you can do to ensure your grass stays healthy over winter. None of them are hard, but they can have a huge impact. If your grass is struggling this winter, pop into ANCO Geelong and talk to an expert.