How to Protect Your Lawn in the Winter

November 30, 2024

Winter might seem like a break for your lawn, but it’s actually one of the toughest seasons for grass. Cold temperatures, snow, and ice put a lot of stress on your yard, but the good news is that a little care now goes a long way. Here’s how you can protect your lawn this winter and set yourself up for a healthy, green yard when the weather warms back up.

Why Winter Lawn Care Matters

Your grass doesn’t die in winter; it just goes dormant. But without the right prep, that period of dormancy can turn into a rough wake-up call. Snow and ice can crush and compact the soil underneath, making it hard for roots to breathe and soak up water. Add in foot traffic, and you’re likely going to be looking at bald spots and stressed-out grass.

If you ignore your lawn through winter, spring will bring a mess of patchy, struggling grass that needs extra work and money to fix. Taking care of it now means you’ll save time, hassle, and cash when the warm weather returns.

Pre-Winter Prep Checklist — What to Do Before the First Snow

Before the snow hits, give your lawn some extra attention with these must-do steps:

• Final mow: Cut the grass a bit shorter than usual. It helps prevent soggy patches and keeps mold from taking hold.
• Fertilize: Use a winterizer fertilizer loaded with potassium. It doesn’t make the grass grow, but it builds strong roots ready to push through spring.
• Aerate: Punch some holes in the soil to break up compaction. This helps water, air, and nutrients reach the roots instead of just sitting on the surface.
• Clean up debris: Clean up any branches and debris that could smother your grass or attract unwelcome pests. Mulch fallen leaves that are on the lawn by mowing them, or move them to garden beds to return nutrients and moisture to the soil. 

How to Protect Your Lawn During the Winter

First things first, keep foot traffic to a minimum. Walking on frozen or snow-covered grass can crush the blades and compact the soil beneath, causing damage that lasts well beyond winter. Similarly, be careful where you pile snow, too. Heavy snow heaps squeeze the ground, suffocating roots and killing grass underneath. This is all core to proper snow and ice removal. 

If you use de-icers on your sidewalks, pathways, driveways, or parking lots, avoid those harsh chemical salts that can burn your lawn along the edging. Instead, opt for eco-friendly options and keep them away from turf edges. 

Once or twice throughout the winter, when we get those days of sunny respite from the cold, it’s also wise to inspect your lawn to identify any potential mold and fungal growth, especially in soggy spots or poor drainage areas; these can silently take over if you’re not looking.

Plan Ahead for Spring Recovery

Smart winter care sets your lawn up for a smooth spring. When you take steps now, your grass wakes up with stronger roots and less compacted soil. This means it greens up faster and bounces back with less damage.

Further, trusting a pro like Lindgren Landscape for winter care brings real benefits: we spot hidden issues early, protect vulnerable areas, and prepare your lawn to handle spring’s growth spurt without extra stress.

When spring arrives, we’re ready to jump in with routine residential landscape maintenance services like dethatching, overseeding, and fertilizing to give your lawn the boost it needs. We also check your irrigation system during winter to make sure it’s in good shape, so you don’t waste water or harm your turf as things warm up. 

Are you ready for winter? Contact Lindgren Landscape today!