Spring is just around the corner. The snow will soon start melting, but what does that mean for your precious lawns? It is essential to learn about the consequences of the winter season on your lawn and the steps you can take to minimize the negative effects.
There are several steps you can take at the onset of spring to better care for your lawn during the thawing and snowmelt. Read more to learn about the common lawn problems that manifest in your lawn during winter dormancy and the steps you can take to make sure that thawing doesn’t damage your grass.
10 Excellent Tips for Lawn Care and Landscape in Oakville For Thaw Season
There are several common troubles that can make lawn care difficult during the thawing season.
Listed below are some simple yet effective tips to help you preserve your grass during the melt and to make sure that spring prep goes smoothly:
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Rake Your Lawn
Raking is the process of scraping off debris, fallen leaves, etc., from the top of the grass. The metal spokes in the rake also work to upturn the top layer of the soil a little bit, helping reinvigorate the topsoil after a long spell of winter.
Raking helps pull up the layers of shoots, roots, and stems (thatch) that have accumulated during the winter season. You will be able to see your grass more thoroughly after removing any other excess growth that has piled up over it during the cold months.
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Restrict Foot Traffic
As the snow thaws, it will dampen the soil on your lawn more and more. The lawn bed tends to become soggier and more susceptible to soil compaction, even under slight loads. It is essential to avoid stepping on your lawn until the melt has drained enough for you to allow proper raking.
It is even more crucial to stay off the top layer of the soil during thawing because the ground further deep is still frozen. Disturbing the topsoil during such situations can cause the roots of the grass to break, and the grass may die.
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Look for Salt Damage and Treat it
While it is snowing, there are countless snow-melting processes that you undertake, like applying salt or ice-melters to your driveways. Additionally, city service trucks frequently make trips to treat the roads with snow-abating compounds to facilitate safe driving.
However, all these treatments may transfer to the snow that is lying on top of your lawn as well. This may initiate salt damage to your lawn, which looks like patches of brown or yellow on the grass.
Consider using gypsum to replenish sulfur and calcium content in the soil to improve it for the grass.
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Treat Snow Mold
As the snow melts, there are increased chances of your grass getting the snow mold. The highly moist conditions created due to melting trigger the growth of snow mold. This is of two types: grey and pink. The grey snow mold doesn’t cause much damage and typically goes away on its own once the lawn dries out completely.
The pink snow mold can be a little tough to treat. To promote the drying process of your lawn, consider breaking up the soil in compacted areas to aerate it. Keep in mind that you need to wear protective clothing and a mask so as not to inhale the mold spores.
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Identify Ponding, Pooling, or Drainage Problems
Another common issue that occurs with the snow melting is the problem of drainage. The snow load in some parts of your lawn may cause unevenness in the levels, creating issues of ponding or water pooling when the snow melts.
It is absolutely crucial to keep checking for ponding in your lawn as the snow melts more and more. Minor drainage problems are easy to fix; however, it is advisable to contact law-care professionals in cases where the lawn becomes too slushy to manage using simple do-it-yourself techniques.
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Check for Moss Growth
Moss growth in your lawn is a clear marker of the soil suffering from high levels of acidity. If you are noticing mossy patches in your lawn, purchase a pH level tester from a local lawn care shop and test the acidity of your lawn soil.
If the acidic levels aren’t too high, you can apply a top layer of lime to your lawn to help neutralize the acids by yourself. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, as adding lime to the soil when it isn’t needed can also hinder the growth of grass. This is because moss may also start to grow if the soil is compacted in some patches.
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Check for Soil Compaction
If you have ascertained that moss growth isn’t due to soil acidity, you should check for soil compaction. Especially if your lawn experiences heavy foot traffic—for example, by children or pets—it is likely that the soil is highly compacted in places. This creates a great opportunity for mold to grow freely in areas that have experienced heavy compaction.
The best course of action is to rent a soil aerator or use a rake to upturn the soil if the compaction is still manageable. This helps the soil aerate and absorb water freely to help the grass rejuvenate.
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Weed and Feed Your Lawn
Wintertime often brings on the growth of weeds in your lawn. The most common winter weed is dandelion, which can deplete the soil of nutrients, leaving your grass to die when it thaws.
It is essential to weed and feed your lawn if you hadn’t prepared it during the autumn for the oncoming winter. Consider using an emergent herbicide in light applications to the lawn so as not to kill the new grass that is sprouting with the thaw.
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Be Careful With Fertilization
Typically, if you had prepared your lawn well for the winter season during autumn, you would not need to use fertilizer as the season thaws. However, it isn’t always possible to prep the lawn during the autumn, which is why you should be careful when using fertilizer when the season thaws.
Always test your soil to find out the exact nutrient deficit before you purchase fertilizer. It helps create the best conditions for the grass to thrive and grow once the snow melts. Additionally, consult your lawn care expert to understand the best time to fertilize the lawn.
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Connect with Professional Lawn Care in Oakville
It can be tricky to manage your lawn once the snow melts away. The soil is mulchy, the grass is patchy, and there may be winter diseases plaguing the grass, amongst countless other issues that the frost brings in.
It is best to consult a professional lawn care professional in Oakville to get a full diagnosis of your grass so that a proper course of action can be decided. The lawn experts help identify issues with the lawn (or the entire landscaping done) that are impossible for the amateur eye. They recommend optimized solutions to help preserve your grass and nurse it back to health for the spring.
Why Do You Need Professional Lawn Care in Oakville for the Thaw Season?
It can be complicated to understand the sleuth of issues that occur on your lawn once the snow melts. In order to avoid administering the wrong treatments to the soil, it is advisable to contact professional lawn care in Oakville.
The experts have a keen eye for catching potential troubles that occur during the winter and treating them for good. Some benefits that you get by enlisting the services of professional lawn care experts are:
- You can save time and money by signing up for a regular lawn care program. Professionals visit your lawn from time to time to prep and treat it in a timely manner for the grass to thrive.
- Experts who know what they are doing use fewer resources and the right ones, too. This reduces material waste and helps preserve the environment by producing less waste.
- With professional care, your lawn maintains its green and healthy appearance throughout the year. In times of emergencies, experts are just a call away, promptly addressing issues and ensuring your lawn stays resilient.
Dependable Lawn: Lush Always
Each season brings its own set of benefits and challenges to your lawn. The winter season is one of the most complicated ones to deal with because the load and moisture from the snow can create tricky issues.
Dependable Lawn is your reliable lawn care provider in Oakville, with a wide range of services that include lawn care during the challenging melting months.
If your lawn needs a little bit of TLC this season, don’t hesitate to call Dependable Lawn for their expert advice and a wide range of lawn care services and landscaping in Oakville.
Book a consultation today!