The new year is here and with that comes exciting goals and plans for the upcoming year. Is one of your goals to have the best lawn in the neighborhood? Even if it is not one of your goals, here are some things to look out for this winter that could affect your spring lawn.
Tips and Tricks
It is a common misconception that snow is bad for your lawn. People often wonder if the snow is killing their lawn or helping it. While lawn diseases like snow mold happen more often with snow coverage, your lawn actually has less risk of damage.
Snow coverage helps insulate the lawn, protecting it from freezing temperatures and keeping it hydrated. Here are some common problems your lawn could face without snow coverage.
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Direct low temperature kill is damage that occurs when sudden or lasting temperatures are below 23℉. Because the grass plant is mostly water low temperatures cause freezing, damaging the grass. When water molecules freeze inside the grass plant they expand and explode causing damage. Damage is not always deadly to the plant but can be in some cases.
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Crown hydration is damage that occurs in the later months of winter. It is caused by warmer days melting ice and snow with rapid freezing at night. The crown of the grass starts to take up as much water as it can as the ice and snow melt. This causes high levels of water in the grass plant which freeze when temperatures drop at night.
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Ice damage happens when rains and poorly drained areas freeze. Damage is not usually critical unless freezing continues for 30-120 days. Your grass type will determine when freezing becomes critical. Kentucky Blue Grass tends to be hardier than Fine Fescue and Ryegrass. Freezing is damaging because the grass cannot take up the water that is needed and it traps high levels of carbon dioxide which become toxic to the plant.
Often times, you will not know how much damage your lawn has sustained until spring when the lawn starts to come out of dormancy. If your lawn sustained light amounts of damage it will repair itself in the spring months. For cases of heavy damage consider aerating and seeding your lawn. This will help replace areas that have died out.
Be Aware Of
Winter desiccation |
| Winter Desiccation Damage |
happens when your lawn cannot supply enough water to keep it alive throughout the winter. When there is no snow coverage to protect and hydrate the lawn drying winds often deplete the grass of water. In severe cases the lawn can die. Winters with small amounts of snow put your lawn at a higher risk of water desiccation.
Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?
Contact us today at: 435-753-5296 or mylawn@lawndoctorutah.com
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