Terri Ramsey Beavers 
After months of hard work and good care of your lawn through the summer, you will probably be a proud homeowner with a lush green lawn. Now is the time to invite friends for barbecue parties or simply enjoy the mornings and evenings in the beautiful outdoor setting. At the same time, with the chilly weather coming ahead, you will be worried about maintaining your lawn in a good condition.
This is something that every homeowner experiences every year. Winters always seem hard for homeowners because they need to put extra effort into the care and maintenance of their living space and outdoors is no exception. However, winter lawn care is not as tough as you may think provided that you know what to do and when to do it. Here are some useful tips that can help you to prep up your lawn for the harsh winter.
Know when to mow the lawn
Mowing your lawn at regular intervals is an essential part of lawn upkeep, both in summer and fall. At the same time, you need to know when to do it. Mowing too often or too short is not a good idea, not even in summer because it may cause scorching. As the fall sets in, mowing should be done every 10-15 days. Ensure that you keep the grass at a healthy length for the upcoming winter. The recommended length is somewhere between 0.75 to 1.5 inches, depending on the severity of winter in your area. Keeping the grass at the right length protects the grass from fungus growth when it snows.
Fertilize before the winter arrives
Fertilizing the lawn at the end of the summer is a great idea to ensure that it will be lush green and healthy in the next season. Using a natural, organic fertilizer is recommended to prep up the soil before it has to face the hardship of winter. While choosing a fertilizer, rely only on a good quality one that has 0% phosphate content. This practice will keep the soil healthy and ready for greenery once again at the onset of summer in the next year.
Reduce or avoid irrigating
As it gets colder in the winter months, there is no need to water your grass as often as you did in summer. In fact, you may even have to avoid irrigating at all because the grass will get adequate moisture from dew and snow during this time of the year. Moreover, the extra water can freeze overnight and cause damage to the grass and plants. Make sure that your sprinklers are turned off for these months unless the grass appears really dry. This makes it a good time to save water.
Prevent mosquitoes
Though pest infestation is less common during the winter months, you still need to be vigilant. If there is stagnant water in your lawn, mosquitoes may get a good breeding ground. Though they may not be as active as in the summers, they get a good chance to lay eggs in the warm and moist areas such as garden pots, flower beds, and rainwater barrels. You can seek professional services for lawn control Texas to have a thorough check for such damp areas in your lawn once before the winter starts.
Maintain your compost
Another useful tip that you should follow for winter prep for your lawn is to build and maintain your compost during these months so that you have enough for the next spring. While cleaning up the yard before the onset of winter, add some leaves to the compost pile. You will probably have plenty of them around in the fall. Leaves add insulation to the compost and prevent it from getting wet.
Be careful when it snows
Leaving the snow on the grass is a good idea because it offers protection for the lawn. Snow acts as an insulator that protects the grass from the crisp, cold winter air. Avoid plowing the snow on the grass because it can cause bald patches on the surface. These patches will be visible even during the summers as the grass will not grow well in these areas.
Winter is the time when your lawn needs extra care and attention. A little extra effort can go a long way in keeping it lush and beautiful in the upcoming season. The good news is that all the time that you invest in lawn care during these months will pay good rewards when summer comes. You will probably have a healthier lawn that looks green and beautiful once again when it is time to enjoy outdoors.