At a glance, it may seem like your lawn is doing nothing during the winter; however, this is certainly not the case. Yes. Your Southeastern Massachusetts lawn is likely in full Winter dormancy by now, but there is more going on under the soil than meets the eye. Let’s take a deep dive into what your lawn is doing during Winter and essential tips for keeping it healthy all season.
Getting Down To The Root Of The Matter
Your Southeastern MA lawn is not dead; it is dormant. This means it is resting and focused on conserving energy and water for new growth once the weather warms up, usually at the beginning of Spring. Although the grass may turn brown, it is still very much alive, shifting crucial resources to the roots and base of the plant, called the crown. This state of dormancy allows your turf to survive the cold temperatures and conditions. Your blades may die off, but the lawn’s living parts are protected underground.
Precautions To Take During The Winter Months
To keep your lawn in top shape all winter, it is important to be aware of practices that could damage your turf. These include minimizing foot traffic during the season and avoiding mowing dormant, frozen, or frosty grass. Frozen grass becomes brittle, and walking on it or mowing it will crush the crown of the grass itself, leading to dead patches and even increased soil compaction, blocking air and water needed to feed the dormant roots of your lawn. In extreme cases, extensive damage to the grass during winter can also lead to potential fungal issues down the road.
Be Careful When De-Icing Areas Around Your Turf
Our Southeastern Massachusetts Winters can be brutal. During the snow and ice season, it is common practice for many homeowners to de-ice their sidewalks, driveways, and other areas around the home when they become slick. Although it is important to keep these areas clear of ice and snow for your and your family’s safety, it is also important to keep the de-icing salts commonly used away from your grass!
Most de-icing compounds contain sodium chloride, calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride. These agents can draw moisture out of the roots and leaves of your grass and cause a host of problems, including dehydration, stunted growth and even cause your grass to die. Utmost care should be taken to keep these products away from your turf when using them.
Other Potential Issues During The Winter Months
- Snow Mold: Snow mold is a fungal disease that can appear as the Winter snow and ice begin to melt. This fungus thrives in cool, wet conditions, and when snow cover and leaf litter cause the lawn to stay moist for prolonged periods. The best way to prevent snow mold is to make sure leaves are gathered and taken away prior to the arrival of snow. This is one reason fall leaf cleanup is important to the health of your grass. If you are concerned or your lawn is showing signs of the disease, you can gently rake the lawn when the snow has melted to help the area dry and recover. In some cases, the areas may need to be treated by a professional with a fungicide to halt further fungal progression and potential lawn damage.
Read more in: When It Comes To Your Southeastern MA Lawn, Are You Concerned There Is A Fungus Among-Us?
- Vole Damage: Voles are a common pest here in Southeastern Massachusetts. During winter, voles can cause damage by eating the roots of the grass from under the soil. They burrow under the grass and in the soil for food and protection from predators. Vole damage signs are dead patches and small holes visible in the lawn. The bark on nearby trees may also appear to be chewed or gnawed on, also signaling their presence. The main causes of voles in a lawn can be food scarcity from other areas, and using snowy lawns as predator protection and insulation.
- Plow Damage: During the winter, snowplows can damage your lawn, especially in grassy areas near driveways, walkways, and around curbs. Snowplows can damage the grass by ripping and tearing it, causing bare spots that will need to be repaired or overseeded come spring. When using a snowplow, try to keep away from grassy areas so as not to cause damage to the surrounding turf.
Lawn Squad’s Goal Is To Protect The Health Of Your Lawn All Year Long!
Here at Lawn Squad of Southeastern Massachusetts, our goal is not only to provide local professional lawn care services but also to share best practices and helpful tips during each season to keep your lawn healthy and happy year-round.
Learning more about the services at Lawn Squad of Southeastern Massachusetts is easy. You can either call us at (774) 840-5329, or fill out a simple online contact form. A member of our team will reach out to you and provide you with a complimentary quote. Being on the way to a healthy, vibrant turf is just a call or click away.
We would love to hear from you – and your lawn will thank you, too!
