Autumn decides whether a lawn will make ends meet in winter. Only a winter-proof lawn defies the adverse weather conditions for a lush green revival in spring. You can find out how to overwinter a lawn properly here.
Make your lawn winter-proof: This is how it works in 3 steps.
In autumn, a comprehensive care program prepares the lawn for the hardships of frost, permanent wetness, and snow pressure. How to winterize your lawn in 3 steps:
Fertilize in October – with what?
The power for healthy overwintering lies in the roots of the lawn. Special autumn fertilization provides the noble grasses with essential nutrients to strengthen the frost hardiness. How to do it right:
- Fertilize the lawn with an extra fall fertilizer, such as patent potash or potash magnesia
- Rain in fertilizer pellets with a sprinkler
- Alternatively, fertilize the lawn organically in autumn with potassium-rich comfrey manure
The time window for autumn fertilization is open to a soil temperature of 10° Celsius (50F).
Last lawn cut – when and how?
When you last mow your lawn is as important as how you do it. Decisive factors are temperature and cutting height:
- Mow for the last time after the first ground frost
- Optimum cutting height: 5 cm (2 inches) (ornamental, sports, and play lawns), 8 cm (3 inches) (shaded lawn)
By overwintering your lawn with taller blades, you prevent damage from snow pressure and lack of light. With a minimum height of 5 centimeters (2 inches), the noble grasses are also ahead of moss and weeds.
Trim lawn edges – tips
Accurately cut lawn edges let a green area with a well-groomed appearance into the winter. The following brief instructions explain the correct procedure:
- Mow close to the edge: steer the lawnmower as close to the edges as possible for the last cut.
- Marking: Use a wooden lath, twine, or garden hose as a marker for straight edge trimming
- Cutting tool: lawn edging cutter, grass shears with telescopic handle, grass trimmer with a vertically positioned cutting head
You can achieve a precise cut without green troublemakers by mowing first and then using the edger.
Lawn care in winter mode
Regular sweeping of leaves is the primary lawn care in winter. Even single leaves cut off the vital supply of light to lawn grasses. The consequences are rot, mold, and fungal infections. In the worst case, the entire lawn dies under a closed layer of leaves.
Tips
If you give your lawnmower the proper care before winter comes, you can ensure a smooth start to the following mowing season. The cornerstones of perfect winter maintenance are a thorough cleaning, including spark plugs, air filters, and an oil change. A lawnmower should spend the winter dry, frost-free, and with an empty tank.
