As cold weather approaches, there are several things you need to do to prepare your lawn for the harsh New Jersey temperatures. Our professional team at Chris James Landscaping wants to help. Here are the lawn care steps to take before winter so your lawn will be lush and beautiful when the warm weather returns.
1. Mow Your Lawn
As the weather gets cooler, your residential lawn will not grow as fast. You should mow your lawn every 10 to 14 days until all the leaves have fallen from the trees. This will prevent the leaves from smothering your lawn, which would cause bare spots.
Once all the leaves have fallen, you will need to mow one last time for the season. Cutting the grass down low, about 1 to 1½ inches, lets the grass protect itself, and it can help reduce the growth of fungus. This also makes the other steps easier for you to do.
2. Aerate Your Soil
Aerating your lawn is where you make small holes in the soil with a tool. When you aerate your lawn, this allows water, air, and nutrients to get to the roots of your grass so that it is strong. It is best to aerate when the soil is moist, this allows the tines of the aerator to penetrate deeper into the ground.
3. Perform a Soil Test and Fertilize
Once you have made several passes with the aerator, it is a great idea to fertilize with a rotary spreader. To ensure that the fertilizer spreader does not dump too much in one spot, make sure you open and close the hopper only when the spreader is in motion.
If you aren’t sure what type of fertilizer to use, you can perform a simple soil test. This will let you know what nutrients your soil is deficient in. Then, you will be able to give your lawn exactly what it needs.
4. Top-Dress Thin Areas
Sometimes, areas of your lawn may get damaged, causing bare spots or thinning areas. To prepare the area, you first need to spread a thin layer of compost. After you apply the compost, use a leaf rake to work the compost into the ground. This will help get the compost in all the holes from the aerator.
It is important for you to use only aged compost. If it has a pungent smell and is hot to the touch, it can burn your lawn.
5. Overseed Bare And Thinning Spots
Once you have prepared the thinning area of your lawn, it is time to overseed. Overseeding is the best way to fill in bare and thinning spots so your lawn stays lush and beautiful.
The best way to do this is to use a spreader to evenly spread the seed, just like when you are fertilizing, open and close the hopper only when the spreader is in motion.
6. Rake And Water
The last step is to rake and water. After you have overseeded, you will need to mix the grass seeds into the compost using the same method you used during the top-dressing step. Once the seeds are mixed in well, water lightly.
It is best to water for 5 minutes at a time, 2 to 3 times a day, until you notice the seeds are sprouting. After that, it only needs to be watered once a day for 15-30 minutes until the grass is established.
Call Us Today
We know the harsh winter weather in New Jersey can take a toll on your lawn. Our professional team at Chris James Landscaping will be happy to help you get it ready so you don’t have to. Call us today and set up an appointment for lawn care before winter.