4 Organic Additions You Can Make to The Lawn in The Winter

It’s a common misconception that homeowners don’t need lawn maintenance as much in the winters as they do in the summers. In fact, improper maintenance can lead to snow mold and other lawn diseases, while the fallen winter leaves can smother the aesthetic appeal of the grass and flowers. The cold season also reduces the soil’s natural capacity to eradicate weeds and increase the green on the turf, which also requires the use of herbicides and fertilizers to keep things running. But with a proactive approach, you can make the lawn disease-free and maintenance free as well as prepare it for the season ahead. And the best part… You can contribute to nature while maintaining the lawn with these 4 organic additions below: 1. Start seeding Winter is the time to fix up the bare patches because the grass plants will have ample time to grow into a healthy root line that will transition from the winter into the spring season. If your lawn has one of the warm grasses like St. Augustine, you can also place extra winter grass seeds. This is because the warm grass usually loses color and becomes inactive in the winter, so winter grass seeds will make sure you have green grass throughout, until the lawn is covered by snow. 2. Harvest some fruit Growing fruit on your own trees in the winter is one of the most satisfying lawn care activities for homeowners. Apart from new trees, you can also prevent the congestion and loss of productivity in the existing trees by pruning: mainly for apple trees. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds, because there are a lot of factors that come into play, such as the ability of the lawn to withstand the new plantation, the health of the soil etc. Moreover, looking at the selection of apple trees from Willis Orchards, you can see there are several varieties. Therefore, you’ll need to understand the condition of your lawn to determine its fruit planting ability and then decide on the type you want to grow. 3. Use eco-friendly fertilizers Eco-friendly fertilizers utilize natural nutrients so they don’t promote acidity in the run off or soil. The food web of the soil stores them until they are required by the plants, promoting a sustainable lawn over the next few months. You can combine the use of eco-friendly fertilizers with organic matter and use compost to top dress the soil. While you may find it difficult to spread the compost, the results will make it worth the extra effort–or you can use compost tea, which is easier to spread. Don’t waste organic fertilizer on clover, dandelions and other broad-leaf weeds: remove them with bare hands. 4.  Keep the clippings, but get rid of the extra thatch There’s a difference between thatch and clippings, and thatch doesn’t result because of the clippings. The reason you should retain clippings in the winter is that it contains 90% of water, and allows the nutrients to return to the soil. On the other hand, thatch becomes a barrier for air, water and nutrient so the soil’s health is comprised. Some thatch on the lawn is acceptable. How do you provide for your lawn during winters? Feel free to leave comments. Article written by guest writer Brooklyn Williams