Generally speaking, there shouldn’t be too much to do throughout the colder, darker months of the year, but there are still a few things to keep an eye out for in order to keep your lawn in the best condition and ready for the spring.
Mowing and General Maintenance
If the weather is not too wet, it’s a good idea to continue mowing your lawn, just taking off a tiny amount at a time. However, try not to mow when wet or frosty as this can cause damage. If you have recently laid turf, check that it has rooted before mowing by pulling at a corner of one of the rolls to see if it comes up easily. If it doesn’t come up easily, it is OK to mow.
If you are not mowing your lawn, then now is a good time to clean and get your mower serviced.
There still may be significant leave fall this month, so remember to continue raking the leaves from the lawn in order to prevent disease. Don’t waste those leaves though – put them in your compost to make a loving mulch for your borders – or just put them straight on your borders to give them some extra nutrition. If you’re worried about compaction, use a leaf blower (such as one of the EGO leaf blowers) in order to reduce the time spent walking across the grass.
At this time of year there should be no need to water, aerate, scarify or treat your lawn – this should all be left until spring.
Winter Weather
As the weather continues to get colder, there are more likely to be frosts. It is very important to walk on your grass as little as possible as the turgidity of the grass increases during frost, meaning that walking on it will crush the leaves and cause dark green/black patches to appear in your lawn.
If it snows, try not to pile it up on the grass when clearing paths as the excess snow will bring on disease.
If there is heavy rain, check for compaction by looking out for puddles that take a long time to clear. Though it is best not to aerate at this time of year, there is no problem in lightly forking those specific problem areas where the puddles have formed in order in order to reduce the issue.
Pests
Activity should be very low at this time of year, with most pests remaining dormant. You may, however, notice casts from earthworms appearing in your lawn. Earthworms are excellent for your soil as they digest any decaying organic matter, therefore producing nutrients, as well as providing valuable, natural aeration. The casts they sometimes leave on the surface can unfortunately occasionally lead to weeds or moss. The best thing to do is simply sweep them from your lawn as they appear in order to minimise their impact.
Preparing for New Turf
If you are planning a new lawn in the spring you can start preparing now by deep digging as and when you can, levelling and raking the soil, but try to avoid doing so in bad weather.
As always, if you have any questions or would like further advice about your lawn, feel free to contact us on 01935 850388, email us at enquiries@sherborneturf.co.uk or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram.
