It’s no secret that gardening during winter is difficult. The cold air, frozen ground and small daylight windows make it difficult for anything to grow. That’s why it won’t surprise you to learn that only 2% of British adults choose to garden during winter. However, these are the people getting ahead of the spring growing game, making it worthwhile to garden through the colder months.
Being out in nature is also known to boost our mental health, which is just another reason you should pick up the trowel this winter. If you do decide that you want to take on some garden maintenance this winter, you’ll likely find that your lawn needs care and attention. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep on top of your lawn maintenance.
We’ve put together a handy guide on the topic, so you’ll be all set for some lawn gardening this winter. Continue reading to find out more.
Let it grow a bit
You may think that the first stage of lawn maintenance in winter is to cut it, but that’s actually the opposite of what you need to do. Instead, stop mowing completely and let it grow. Mowing your lawn when temperatures are below 5°C can do more bad than good, so avoid it altogether until conditions are more favourable.
With no mowing during the winter months, this is a great opportunity to pick up new equipment from reliable suppliers or service your lawnmower to ensure it’s in tip-top condition for spring gardening tasks.
Aerate for better drainage
Snow or heavy rainfall is common throughout winter, which can lead to puddles forming on your lawn. If these aren’t swiftly dealt with, you may have soil problems in the future. Aerating the ground is an easy way to solve this problem. Simply use an aerator or garden fork to dig small holes in the ground. This will relieve the soil compaction, allowing for greater drainage now and in the future.
Plus, more air can enter the ground with this, which will improve root systems and enhance the health of your lawn.
Use winter fertiliser to improve grass health
During winter, the green hues of your grass can fade due to poor air and soil conditions. However, winter fertiliser can breathe new life into your grass. Options with low nitrogen, high potassium and high iron counts are the best ones to choose.
Please note, that you should avoid regular fertilisers if you plan on adding it to your garden. These fertilisers are much stronger than winter ones, which can stump growth and cause disease. This could ruin your garden, so should be avoided at all costs