News

Don’t Let Winter Put a Freeze on Your Lawn

28th January 2016

Winter can be a tough time for lawns. Less than ideal conditions can leave a lawn looking patchy, bare and unhealthy when spring rolls around. Prevent and repair winter damage with these simple tips.

Why Does Winter Damage Occur?

Harsh winter weather can be tough on lawns. Extended periods of freezing weather or many months of freezing and thawing can damage individual grass plants and roots. Increased precipitation from rain and snow can also cause problems with over-watering. Decreased hours of daylight slow plants growth and make it even more difficult for your lawn to recover from this damage.

Although you may see only the problems in your grass, winter weather can cause soil damage as well. Soil is made up of granules of different types of materials like sand, clay, loam and silt mixed in with water and pockets of air. Cold temperatures can cause soil to freeze, which damages the delicate soil structure and can lead to compaction. Compacted soil does not drain well, and plant roots struggle to grow in compacted soil. Likewise, cold soil temperatures can hinder the uptake of certain key nutrients plants need to thrive.

How to Prevent and Repair Winter Damage

Good lawn care all year round will make your lawn less susceptible to winter damage, but first you have to identify the root cause of your problem. If excess moisture is your problem, you may want to consider cutting back on watering after July. You may also want to remove existing grass in spring and plant a variety that tolerates water better. If freezing temperatures are your problem, you can plant a number of hardy varieties of grass that can better stand up to cold weather. If you notice that the shaded areas of your lawn struggle to grow after winter, you can replace these areas with mulch or topsoil. Lastly, if you have low-lying areas that fill with water during the winter, you may want to consider leveling these areas. Although it sounds difficult, leveling a yard can be done quickly and easily by a quality landscaping companies.

Superior Sod has many products and resources to help repair winter lawn damage. We carry a variety of weather-hardy grasses as well as mulch and topsoil. Contact us today to see how we can turn your patchy or unhealthy lawn back into a lush, green oasis.

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