As winter approaches, it’s important to make sure you prepare your lawn. There are a few things you can do to make sure your lawn is strong and healthy for the cold New Jersey winter. The team at Chris James Landscaping has put together some tips to help you prepare your lawn for winter.
Prepare Your Soil
It’s important to make sure your lawn is at its strongest as it heads into winter. Strong grass will come back quickly in the spring. You can do this by taking care of your soil.
Aeration is a vital step to ensure your lawn has proper drainage and that your grassroots get necessary nutrients. You can also apply fertilizer to replenish any nutrients your lawn lost during the summer months.
Don’t Forget One Final Mow
It might be tempting to just put your lawn mower up for the winter but don’t forget to give your lawn one final mow before it goes dormant. A lawn that is overgrown during the winter is more susceptible to lawn pests and diseases. The longer grass creates pockets of moisture that is more prone to certain diseases such as lawn fungus. You’ll want to set your mower height to just one notch shorter than your usual setting for summer.
Clean Up Debris
If you didn’t rake up leaves in the fall then make sure you do it now. Leaves and other debris left on your lawn will retain moisture and encourage fungal growth. It’s also a good time to clean up debris out of your garden area and cut back dead plants.
Make Sure Your Sprinkler System Is Off
One thing homeowners often forget is to turn off the sprinkler system. This will not only save you money but will ensure your pipes don’t freeze. If you have a drip system, make sure you blow out water from your lines before attaching the cap. You can also see the instructions for your specific sprinkler system to see if they have any further winterization tips to follow.
Put Up Markers for Important Lawn Structures
Winter can bring a thick blanket of snow that can hide fragile or important structures in your lawn. If you have any areas that you want to make sure don’t get trampled then make sure you put up flags to mark these areas. These markers will be a signal to any snow plows or snow removal services to keep clear of that area.
Put Away Lawn Toys
Your lawn is more prone to damage when it goes dormant. That’s why it’s important to remove heavy items from your lawn. It’s also important to keep walking on your lawn to a minimum. Putting away lawn toys and furniture will also prolong the life of these items since they’ll be stored out of the elements.
Prepare Your Garden Equipment
Make sure you disconnect and drain all of your hoses. Place insulators over all of your spigots to prevent freezing pipes. Another important thing to do is to prepare your garden equipment for the winter months.
You’ll want to winterize your lawnmower and other equipment by ensuring it’s in a covered place. You’ll also want to make sure you drain any gas from the tank as it can cause damage if left to sit for months.
Call Us for Help
If you have any questions about taking care of your lawn or how to prepare it for winter then we’re happy to help you out. Our team at Chris James Landscaping is also happy to provide lawn care and maintenance for you. If you need landscaping help in the New Jersey area then give us a call today!