– by Cam McLennan –
While our Peninsula winter weather is actually quite mild, it’s still cold and wet enough to damage your lawn if it’s not being properly cared for and prepared for the winter weather.
Here are few suggestions for winterizing your lawn on the Saanich Peninsula.
Mow Your Lawn
For the final cut of the year choose a dry day in September or October and mow the lawn about an inch shorter than you normally would in the summer. Cutting it slightly shorter will help improve air flow and encourage root growth. Ideally you want to complete your final mow on a dry day so if you mulch instead of bagging your clippings they can be left on the lawn and won’t be all clumped up. Large, wet clumps of grass and organic material will suffocate the grass below it causing ugly, brown patchy sections.
Raking Up Leaves and Debris
While leaves and other organic material can usually be mulched with your lawn mower, if there are a lot of leaves you’ll want to rake them up and remove them from the lawn. Too much organic material on top of your lawn will create an environment for disease and other harmful organisms that can attack your healthy lawn. A lawn that has been raked of all debris looks much cleaner and improves your curb appeal too.
Lawn Fertilization
Autumn is generally the best time to fertilize your lawn as the grass will be slowing its upward growth and instead focusing on its root system and the storing of nutrients and sugars for the cold months ahead. Keeping your grass well fertilized with a mixture rich in Nitrogen and Potassium will go a long way to ensuring you have a lush, green healthy lawn next spring.
Lawn Aeration
Healthy grass can grow very thick and without aeration of the soil, the roots below won’t be able to get the oxygen and nutrients they need to thrive. Aerating your lawn involves the use of special equipment that pokes circular holes into your lawn a few inches deep. The “plugs” of lawn that are removed can either be raked up or left on the lawn as a type of mulch. By reducing the soil compaction and removing any excess thatch from your lawn you’ll ensure your lawn can get the nutrients it needs.
Don’t neglect your lawn this winter. If you want beautiful, lush green grass next spring then give your lawn a great chance by ensuring it’s winterized and ready for the cold, wet months coming up.
For more information visit www.islandpromowingandlandscaping.ca.
