Written by Adam Coholan, an active blogger out of New York who writes about landscaping and exterior design based on his experience working with luxury homes in Queens. You can follow him on Twitter @Coho22
It’s not much fun to think about winter during the long sunny days of late summer, but that cold season will soon be upon us. Giving some thought to winterizing your lawn now will save you time and trouble when spring next rolls around. Here are a few ideas to consider when getting your lawn ready for winter:
For starters, all landscaping and flowerbeds should be weeded. Removing weeds before they have a chance to go to seed will improve the likelihood of having weed-free beds when spring arrives. Soggy leaves left on the lawn below a layer of snow can damage or kill the grass, and will promote their return when winter ends.
The fall is also the perfect time to test and treat your soil. Have the pH balance and chemical makeup of the earth in your lawn and garden measured. Any fertilizers that are added in the fall will have plenty of time to become fully integrated into the soil before it’s time to plant. October is often the best time for fall aeration of a lawn, but this can vary depending on location, so make sure to consult your local lawn professionals.
Finally, once frost hits, have the lawn mowed one last time. It’s often best to make this cut quite a bit shorter than normal. This will prevent the buildup of dead grass, which could suffocate any new growth come spring.
For those that are into gardening, it’s the time to plant springtime bulbs and remove summer ones. Fall is the season for planting anything you want to see emerge early next year. There’s nothing like seeing new daffodils or tulips popping up to announce that spring has arrived. Many summer bulbs including dahlias and gladiolus cannot survive harsh winter temperatures. If you live in a particularly cold climate, you will probably want to remove them and store them in a cool, dry place for replanting next year.
