Winterizing Your Lawn

The secret to a having a beautiful yard in the spring is to start planning for it ahead of time. Whether you are in a cold climate or a more temperate one, it's a good idea to take a few easy steps that will bring your grass back even greener and healthier than before.

Rake Your Leaves

If fall has left your yard covered up in pesky brown leaves, don't just leave them there -- rake them up. Leaving a heavy layer of leaves on your grass can keep it from getting the air and nutrients it needs and cause it to die However, a few leaves and clippings can actually break down into fertilizer as the winter goes on, giving your yard nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Mow One Last Time Then Aerate

Before putting the mower away for the season, give your yard one last mowing. Cut your grass a little shorter than you would ordinarily. Lengths longer than two inches could trap moisture and lead to diseases once spring comes along. When you've done the last mowing, the next lawn care step is to aerate the soil. By pulling small plugs of dirt out and allowing oxygen to reach the grass you will help your lawn ‘breathe’ better. Many lawn care companies can provide this service for a small fee.

Lawn Care Basics: Seed, Fertilize, Water

If you have sparse or bald spots in your yard, be sure to apply some grass seed after the lawn is aerated. This allows the seed to germinate in the cooler temperatures. This helps cut down the number of weeds that might grow with your new seed. After you've given your new seeds a chance to grow, apply a slow releasing fertilizer. Be sure to choose a formula that's specially designed for winterizing your yard. Fertilizing helps you be sure your yard receives nutrients through the cold winter season. After you apply it, give your yard one last good drink: the water will activate the fertilizer.

Use A Professional For Lawn Pest Control

The type of pests can vary widely depending on where you live, so it's a good idea to contact a professional for lawn pest control. Whether you're faced with grubs or other pests, a lawn care company will know what to do to get rid of them, but still leave friendly creatures like earthworms alone.

Check Your Sprinklers

Do you have an underground sprinkler system? Be sure to check and make sure it's been drained properly. This is especially important if you're in a part of the country that freezes. Water that's left in the buried lines will expand when it freezes. This could cause the pipes to burst, shooting water all over your yard and getting you a big repair bill.

Properly preparing for the winter will go a long way towards having a healthy yard in the spring. Use these few simple steps and you'll be looking at lush, green grass when spring gets here.