How Do I Get My Albuquerque Lawn Prepared for Winter?

The end of the Albuquerque summer is prime time to lay down the foundation for a green field come spring.

Taking a few proactive steps in the fall can help ensure that your grass has its best chance to make it through winter weather and green up beautifully come spring.

If you do it right, winter prep can help mitigate soil compaction, promote nutrient absorption and deep root growth. This post will take you through the key steps to get your lawn ready for winter.

What Is Winter Lawn Preparation?

Grass can easily become stressed after a long, hot summer and may show signs of thinning or discoloration or even have compacted soil. But, in the fall, grass is prepared to grow again now is the perfect time for you to strengthen and beautify your lawn before winter.

Some important components of pre-winter lawn care are raking to help control mold and fungus, mowing lawn to an appropriate height so it doesn’t get matted under snow, and aerating the soil to relieve compaction and enhance water uptake and nutrition. In addition, applying a fall fertilizer feeds the grass roots and overseeding can fill in those thin or bare spots – to help thicken up your lawn.

Necessary tools & supplies for winter lawn care

For good winter lawn care, you will need to:

• Lawnmower
• Power aerator
• Compost and fertilizer
• Wheelbarrow
• Spreader (rotary or drop)
• Grass seed
• Leaf rake
• Fertilizer

When Should I Start Winter Lawn Prep?

For most areas, the early to mid-fall is when you want to begin your winter prep routine. This gives new grass ample time to establish before winter cold is setting in. Seek to finish most work by late September or early October in your area.

Guide to the Winter Lawn Preparation Process

Here is how to properly prepare your yard for winter.

Procedure 1: Mow Low

Mow the grass down to 1 to 1½ inches, which makes it easier to aerate and easier for you to tell how much compost should be added.

Bring the lawn down gradually over a couple of mowings, never removing more than a third of the grass blade at one time if your lawn is standing taller than 3 inches. It will prevent the plants from being shocked.

Procedure 2: Aerate

The hollow tines of a core aerator don’t travel easily through hard, dry ground. On a day when the soil is damp, but not soggy, make a few passes around the lawn’s perimeter. This will create a buffer zone for turning this heavy machine around as you chug it back and forth over the remainder of lawn.

An aerator also reduces the compaction of soil and allows air, water, and nutrients to better penetrate. You can rent a power aerator at your local hardware store or garden center. Our research found that this typically costs about $90 a day, but you might be able to rent it by the hour for a more economical total.

Procedure 3: Top-Dress

Mature compost promotes soil structure and supplies necessary nutrients. In areas with thin grass, ready the soil for seeding by covering it with a half-inch layer of aged compost. I cradle a snow shovelful in the crook of my arm, hurl it off with my other hand, as illustrated, and then tickle-nudge it around with a leaf rake.

Make sure your compost is cured, meaning dry and crumbly and cool to the touch. If it smells and hot, that will be more likely to contain pathogens and burn your lawn.

Procedure 4: Fertilize

Use high phosphorus fertilizer to encourage root development. Pelletized lime may be required if a soil test reveals a low pH. Apply fertilizer and pelletized lime (if necessary) with a rotary spreader. A high-phosphorus fertilizer will produce more root growth, but you are going to want a soil test to tell you the best blend for your situation.

Keep the spreader from dumping too much fertilizer in one place: Open or close the hopper only while moving.

Procedure 5: Overseed

Fill a spreader with seed, then set the control to run at about two-thirds of the bag’s recommendation (to allow for overlapping passes) and distribute the seed evenly over your compost.

Just as when fertilizing, remember to keep the spreader moving while opening and closing the hopper. For big jobs, rent a power overseeder that roughly shaves the turf and drops in seeds at 1,000 per square foot. It takes the raking out of Step 6.

Procedure 6: Rake and Water

Mix the seeds into the compost using a leaf rake tines up. Water sparingly — 5 minutes at a time, two to three times daily — until the seeds begin to sprout.

Once seeds have sprouted, water once a day for 15-30 minutes. Mow again with the existing grass is 3 inches high and bag clippings. Once leaves have fallen, cut the grass back to 1½ inches for its long winter nap.

Winter Lawn Prep Mistakes to Avoid

When getting your lawn ready for winter, here are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Watering too much: Too much water causes fungal development and root rot.
• Overfertilizing: Fertilizer burn can damage grass roots and diminish the health of your soil.
• Overlooking aeration: Failure to aerate may result in compact soil and weak nutrient uptake.
• Choosing the wrong grass seed: Use seeds that are appropriate for your region and type of lawn.
• Soil pH: Don’t overlook soil pH ranges, which can limit nutrient availability.

ASAP Sands Outdoor Services is Here for you this Winter – Your South Jersey & LBI Snow Removal and Winter Yard Care Specialist!

Whether or not you should hire a professional depends on the time, expertise and how difficult your lawn’s needs are. The going the DIY route is cheaper, but it’s work and takes time and a fair amount of muscle. There’s also a chance you won’t have the tools and will need to pay for rental.

Final Thoughts

Taking care of your lawn in a correct manner during the winter season not only keeps it healthy, but it also helps to reinvigorate it following the stress and wear-and-tear that results from summer use, ultimately allowing you to have a plush green lush lawn in spring.

By getting ahead of them early, you can reduce the risk of diseases, pest infestations and other problems that will be able to further weaken your lawn by the time winter comes around.

If you follow these steps, your lawn will get the treatment it needs to remain healthy throughout winter. And don’t forget to please adjust these treatments to fit your grass species and local climate.