Even though the lawns of homes in some areas may currently be covered with a blanket of snow, the grass below is still alive and needs care. With good care during the winter months, you will be able to keep your grass greener more months of the year and ensure it starts healthy new growth when the warm spring weather arrives. The following winter lawn maintenance tips will help ensure your lawn stays healthy through the cold winter weather:

1. Cut and Dethatch Your Lawn a Few Weeks Before the First Winter Freeze to Keep It Healthy

The thatch of your lawn is the dead layer of grass blades and roots just below the surface. This dead thatch can inhibit new growth and lead to problems like bald spots. Therefore, it is a good idea to dethatch your lawn in the late fall with a garden rake. To do this, gently rake the surface of the turf to only remove the dead plant material.

2. Aerate the Lawn to Allow Moisture and Air Circulation to Reach Roots and Promote New Growth

Aerating your lawn is another good winter lawn maintenance job that will help give you greener turf next spring. This process is done by rolling over the lawn with spikes that penetrate the layer of turf and make holes that go down to the root systems. The aeration of your lawn will allow moisture and air to reach the roots and allow new grass to establish roots and replace the old dead roots.

3. Use Cold Weather Grasses to Overseed Your Lawn to Promote Green Growth in Mild Winter Weather

Overseeding is a method of planting new grass after it has been dethatched and aerated to establish healthy roots. This can also be done with winter grass species that thrive in colder weather. The cold weather grass seed will start sprouting in mild late winter weather to help establish roots in the soil before the warm spring weather arrives.

4. Repair Turf That Is Low or Damaged and Add Slow Release Fertilizer to Promote New Growth

Sometimes, there are bald and low spots in the turf of your lawn. During the winter months, these problems can be repaired by adding a mixture of topsoil and sand to level the low spots and overseeding with a mixture of warm and cold weather grass species. Doing this will repair the turf and promote new growth as the weather starts to get warmer.

These are some lawn maintenance tips to help ensure your lawn stays healthy through the cold winter weather. If you need help with caring for your grass before the weather gets warmer, contact a lawn maintenance service, such as Esposito's Landscaping & Lawn Care, to help prepare your grass for the warm spring weather that is on its way.