Colorado winters can be tough on your lawns. From hard freezes to snow, and even dry periods, can all have damaging impacts on your lawn. Here are some things you can do to make sure your lawn is prepped for a Colorado winter.
Clean Up
While some believe that dead leaves provide a natural fertilizer for their lawn, this is not the case. Leaves and other debris left on your lawn through the winter can actually keep your lawn from breathing and kill it. Be sure to get rid of leaves and other debris before the first snow so it can soak in the moisture and breathe once it has melted away.
Mow Your Lawn Until It Stops Growing
In Colorado, it is not uncommon for your lawn to continue growing through November and into December. It all depends on what the weather has been like. You should mow until your grass stops growing, or in other words, becomes dormant. There is no need to lower your mowing levels either. You don’t want to stop mowing too early because long grass can lead to the same problems as leaving leaves on your lawn.
Keep Traffic to a Minimum
During the winter, your lawn will go dormant, and foot traffic can cause long-term damage to your grass and prevent greening in the spring. Keep the wear and tear on your lawn to a minimum. If it has snowed and ice has built upon the grass, you can increase foot traffic in those areas to help break up ice and help the lawn breathe better. Be careful not to overdo it!
Watch the Ice-Melts and Salts
Be careful not to get any ice-melts and salts on your lawn. They can damage your grass and cause some long-term problems. Be sure that your ice-melts and salts stay on pavement only!
Use a Winterizing Fertilizer
To really prep your lawn for the winter, you should consider laying a winterizing fertilizer in October or November. This kind of fertilizer will help keep your lawn fed during the winter months. Be sure to aerate your lawn before fertilizing to ensure the nutrients get all the way down to the roots.
