Typically, grass “hibernates” and enters dormancy in the winter. In Indianapolis, we recommend overseeding cool-season grasses into the turf during autumn and way before winter to provide your dormant yard some proof of life when the cold months arrive. Common cool-season grasses for Indy lawns include Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, and turf-type tall fescue.
During this time, you should have already aerated and overseeded your lawn. Then, maintaining a healthy lawn over the winter is possible. With our expert help, you can add a pop of color to a rather dull turf blanketed with a thin sheet of snow. Proper winter lawn care allows your grass to bounce back quickly after winter.
7 Tips to Maintain a Nice Indy Lawn Over the Winter
To help keep your Indy lawn nice in the winter, we at Warweg & Co., Inc. listed the following tips.
1. Aerate at least once a year
Aerate your lawn at least once a year to give your soil more air. This process involves creating holes for seeding and removing dirt spikes from your yard using a spade. We recommend leaving aeration and seeding to the pros, so it is done right. Hiring an expert also eliminates the need for renting a motorized or manual aerator if your lawn is particularly huge.
2. Scatter seeds on bare patches
Apply seeds liberally over damaged or dead areas to help promote growth when spring returns. Generally speaking, autumn is the optimum time of year to plant seeds, and early in the winter might also work in case you missed the opportunity during fall. Water the grass regularly after the seed has been planted, even though the winter rain typically takes care of this on its own.
3. Fertilize
Let the pros perform proper fertilization, so it’s done meticulously. We’ll use a spreader to apply fertilizer to make this process efficient. Moreover, with our help, you can be sure that we’ll apply only the recommended quantity. A lawn that has received too much fertilizer may become burned.
4. Mow the right height
Most homeowners skip mowing in the winter since you won't be spending much time outside appreciating your grass. However, cutting the grass short in the winter prevents garden pests from residing in the long grass and gives your lawn room to breathe. We recommend setting your lawn mower's blades a little higher than usual and mowing less frequently than in the summer.
5. Rake dead leaves and keep your lawn clean
Remove as many dead leaves as possible because doing so benefits the lawn by letting the root system below breathe. While cleaning up fallen leaves, you must avoid leaving any trash on the grass. These things have the potential to kill grass, spread disease, and attract pests like mice and insects that can cause damage.
6. Keep off the grass
Dormant grass can withstand light traffic when it is covered in snow or is exposed to the elements. Unfortunately, a heavily used grass path will take longer to re-green in the spring and cause compaction. Minimizing traffic on your lawn can prevent any damage that might happen naturally as part of a garden's wear-and-tear cycle.
7. Adjust accordingly to the winter conditions
Although your lawn is tough and can withstand a harsh winter, some conditions can be detrimental. If you are aware that a winter storm is imminent, it helps to chip away small amounts of exposed ice in the area.
Winters could subject your lawn to some harsh circumstances during the season. The best course of action is to ensure that the grass is prepared and continuous care is given during the cold months.
Professional Winter Lawn Care with Warweg & Co., Inc.
With the help of our experts, your lawn can survive the winter and aid in its quick recovery in spring. Contact our Warweg & Co., Inc., and we will help you with any lawn care service you need, such as fertilization, aeration and seeding, weed control, disease control, and more.
Call us at (317) 885-8983, and we’ll set up a meeting with one of our reliable professionals. Partner with us, and you can be sure that our Greater Indianapolis contractors will take care of your lawn in the winter and beyond.
