Lawn experts reveal winter lawn care tips everyone should know

It’s easy to neglect your garden during winter as most of us spend our time inside avoiding the cold weather. However if you want your garden to have a flying start in spring, your lawn may need extra attention after a long cold and wet winter. 

With questions such as ‘can you cut wet grass?’ up 90% in Google (November- January) lawn expert Chris McIlroy at The Grass People has put together his top 5 tips for how to care for your lawn during winter. 

1. Never walk on a frosty lawn 

The sound of the crunch from walking on a frosty lawn is very appealing, however, grass blades that are walked on when frozen can split and break, meaning when your grass wakes up come spring, it could appear yellowed, brown, or dead. Avoid walking on your grass until the frost has thawed – this goes for pets too!

2. Build a snowman, just not on your lawn! 

Building a snowman is a must when we’re lucky enough to have a flurry of snow, however, try to avoid building one on your grass. A build-up of heavy snow on one part of your grass will create the perfect conditions for fungal diseases like Fusarium patch to develop. Fusarium patch (also known as snow mould) thrives in wet, damp and compacted conditions and it can cause your grass to become yellow, brown, or if left long enough, it could kill it. 

3. Still mow your lawn (if needed)

Anything below 5°C and your lawn should stop growing so mowing during the winter months will not be required. However, some areas in the UK see temperatures higher than this during the winter months so grass generally continues to grow, but at a very slow pace! 

You should only mow your lawn if it’s necessary and the conditions are favourable. So, it is not advised to mow if there is a heavy frost or snow expected or if the ground is very wet. So if your grass is looking overgrown, and the weather is dry and above 5°C  there’s no harm in getting the mower out! 

4. Sweep Fallen Leaves 

Winter lawn care includes periodically sweeping up fallen leaves and any debris from your gras surface using a light rake or brush. Wet leaves on your lawn add an extra layer of moisture, this water then saturates the grass underneath which can lead to lawn diseases such as Fusarium Patch. 

Try using your leaves as mulch around trees and other plants to help retain moisture for those dryer days. Or you can leave it to the side of your lawn for any wildlife to enjoy!

5. Mower maintenance

Blunt blades and faulty parts can stop you in your tracks when your grass is in desperate need of a trim come spring! Mowing your lawn with blunt blades can damage your grass resulting in a yellow, brown and raggedy looking lawn. In some cases, it can even pull up portions of your grass as it pulls on the entire plant instead of slicing through cleanly. Servicing your mower now will ensure that it is ready to go as soon as the time for your first mow of the season comes around.

For more information about how to care for your lawn during winter visit: https://thegrasspeople.com/7-quick-tips-better-lawn-autumn-winter/