During most winters, I consider the wintertime a
vacation from lawn care. This year I see that brown turf called my lawn every time I go out or come home and I find myself asking “Should I be doing something?” Are you having the same thought? Today I want to share what I found out about winter lawn care in Colorado.
Winter Kill
Well cared for turf is resilient and strong, but winter weather can be unforgiving to even the best lawns. Serious damage from ice, wind, extreme temperatures and freeze/thaw can be done to the sensitive crown of the grass. The crown is the place where the plant stem meets the roots. These conditions could result in winterkill. Recovery could take longer if winterkill occurs.
To prevent winterkill in Colorado, make sure the grass is prepped in the fall.
• Use a fall fertilizer. Mow the grass and apply fertilizer after the grass has stopped growing, about six weeks before it goes dormant.
• Rake up the leaves to prevent them from smothering the grass and giving rodents a place to live.
• Slowly lowering the cutting blade of your mower with each mowing. Make sure the grass is as short as possible at the end of the season. This will protect any new growth that is more fragile near the end of the growing season. Long grass is also a warm place for mice and other burrowing creatures. They can create dead spots where they spend most of their time.
• Monitor the weather and deal with conditions as they occur.
Winter Watering
In winter the bare grass can become desiccated or dried out when exposed to winter winds and extreme temperatures over long periods of time. When you water when your sprinkler is turned off it’s called “winter watering.” For most homeowners that would be between November through mid-April.
Try to water 1-2 times per month during this period. Pick a day when the air temperature is above 40 degrees and the soil is not frozen. Watering at mid-day is also a good idea so the water doesn’t freeze and the water has time to soak in the ground before it freezes at night. If the water freezes, solid ice could suffocate your lawn and leave it matted.
If lawns are not watered during the winter then root damage can occur Root health affects the wellbeing of the entire plant. With the dry air of winter, there is very little moisture in the soil. This can cause distress to your trees, plants and lawn. The damage may not be noticeable until the spring.
Colorado lawns that are exposed to the south or west are especially susceptible. To prevent damage, water from October through March.
Ice and Snow Cover
If we are having periods of snow followed by warm temperatures, then freezing temperatures, it can create a thick layer of ice on a lawn. Most Colorado grasses can handle it but if the ice persists for more than 30 days the grass could be damaged or killed.
It hasn’t been a problem this year, but a persistent snow cover can create insulated conditions near the soil surface. This could cause gray or pink snow mold. Snow mold is likely along the north side of the building and along driveways where snow has been piled up. Remove the snow from the these areas and avoid large piles in the grass. You can also protect your grass from snow mold with a final application of fertilizer appropriately timed.
Mice love these insulated area and can create noticeable trails in the grass in the spring. Mouse activity may also occur and leave noticeable trails in the grass in the spring.
Keep it Clean
Remove items such as lawn chairs, toys, before the first snow. This will prevent the possibility of stunted thin or even dead spots in the spring.
Avoid Excessive Lawn Traffic
When the grass is brown and short, people don’t think about the damage that too much foot traffic can do to a lawn. Even though grass is relatively resilient, it will still have a difficult time recovering if a path becomes well worn across the lawn.
So there you go. I know that a nice lawn is going to help the curb appeal of my home and it’s resale value. I guess I can’t take the whole winter off from caring for my lawn.
