With the cold creeping in and winter on its way, it can be tempting to just forget about taking care of your yard since snow is going to cover it soon anyway. You should know, though, that taking care of your yard before winter actually arrives can help ensure it bounces back quicker come spring. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to prepare your yard for winter, so you can have a beautiful landscape waiting for you after the snow clears.
Cut Your Grass Just Right
There’s a fine line when it comes to getting the length of your grass right. You should continue to mow your lawn throughout autumn to ensure your grass won’t be too damaged by the snow. A good length to shoot for is about 4 inches, as this will protect the roots of the grass without allowing the blades to clump up and choke out the roots.
Drain Outdoor Water Lines
Because you won’t be watering your lawn anymore after the snow drops, it’s best to shut off and blow out any water lines you have that lead or start outdoors. Not only will you not need them during the winter, but failing to do this puts your house at risk as well. Any water left in those pipes can freeze and possibly burst, leaving you with a much bigger problem to deal with.
Fertilize and Compost
To keep your lawn healthy and prepared for spring, you’ll want to continue fertilizing it up until you can’t reach it anymore. Fertilizer or compost will nourish the roots of your plants and grass throughout the cold months. This makes it easier for them to pop back up once the weather starts to get warmer.
Continue Watering
Even though plants go dormant during the winter months, you should still continue to water them regularly. Dry autumns and winters can be particularly hazardous to plants, so make sure you water them deeply. When watering, make sure you get all the way down to their roots.
Remove Dead Leaves
If you decide not to rake your leaves this autumn, your yard and lawn will suffer for it. The result of not raking and disposing of leaves is that snow comes and buries them on top of your grass and plants. This creates a layer that stops the plants from getting any sun, water, or nutrients. Don’t leave dead leaves on your lawn to clump up and destroy your grass.
Now that you know how to prepare your yard for winter, you can look forward to a much greener spring. It may seem like a hassle to deal with these things while the weather gets colder, but the payoff is worth it if you want your home to look its best.
