Prepping your lawn for winter

Think your lawn is finished growing for the season?

Think again. As the weather turns cooler, your lawn is

actually thickening and spreading. Turf roots natu-

rally go into a growth spurt right about now as they

convert nutrients into food reserves. In fact, the aver-

age lawn’s density can increase by as much as 20%

during the cooler fall months of there’s enough mois-

ture and fertilizer present (and if the soil isn’t too

compacted).

Setting the stage for better growth

If the following haven’t been done already, they

should be done as soon as possible before winter.

•

Elimination of any fall weeds to avoid competi-

tion with your grass

•

Opening of the soil with core aeration to relieve

soil compaction and help roots thicken

•

Application of a heavy dose of fertilizer to encour-

age new root growth

In addition to the above three steps, all you need to

add is water (in the absence of rainfall). Your lawn

will reward you with much better looks. Plus, you’ll

enjoy improved winter color; faster green-up in the

spring; and more drought-resistant roots for an all-

around healthier lawn!

Prepping your soil for winter

Preparing garden soil with organic amendments is al-

ways a good idea. It improves soil structure for better

aeration and drainage, and this leads to better plant

growth. Fall is a great time to do it, since soil is usu-

ally drier and easier to work with at this time of year.

How much is enough? What’s a good amend-

ment to use?

From 3” to 4” of organic amendment will be benefi-

cial. It should be added over the garden soil area,

then turned or filled into the top 8’ to 10’ of soil.

Sphagum peat moss has long been a popular amend-

ment for garden soils. Since it has a low PH, it can

help to lower soil pH as it decomposes. It’s very good

at holding water too (up to 20 times its dry weight).

Another option is compost, which can also help to in-

crease soil’s water-holding capability. Compost is very

cost-effective since it can be made at home, but it’s

important to make sure that it’s ready before using it.

“Finished” compost is dark in color, crumbly, has an

“earthy” smell and is within 10 degrees of the air tem-

perature around it. Manure can be used too, as long

as it’s well-aged. Fresh manure isn’t recommended

since it can be unpleasant to handle and may contain

a lot of weed seeds.

Any of these options will make a world of difference

in health and beauty of your garden plants next year.