Experts are warning against walking on your grass in winter. Too much traffic — or lots on the same well-worn path — can damage frozen blades, affecting how the lawn looks come spring.
When it comes to autumn lawn care, most of us know that scarifying the grass goes a long way. But as temperatures fall and we approach winter, two gardening experts say that we should walk on our lawns less.
Codey Stout, Head of Operations for TreeTriage says that in cold weather, you should minimize traffic on your grass. 'Especially when it's frosty and snowy, it’s best not to walk on your lawn,' he tells us.
Codey says that frosty conditions will cause the grass blades to freeze. Therefore, when pressure is applied, they are likely to break.
'Also, water molecules that are frozen and expanded can cause cellular damage to the grass,' says Codey. So, what can you do to look after your lawn when the mercury drops?
There are plenty of things you can do, and it's well worth taking some time to look up how to protect plants in winter so your favorite outdoor plants don't suffer. First of all, watering your lawn deeply in the evening will help to keep it looking its best.
Codey explains that the evaporation process will mean the temperature around the blades of grass is warmer. When the temperature drops later on in the evening, the watered grass won’t freeze enough for the water molecules to expand and cause damage.
Mo Mallah, founder of Urban Organic Yield agrees that watering your lawn will make a big difference. 'If you haven't been watering your lawn now, it's time to start,' says Mo.
The gardening expert also recommends using a special fertilizer for cold-weather conditions. These can be picked up cheaply on Amazon.
If you do end up with patches, don't worry, as there are lots of options when it comes to how to repair lawn patches quickly and easily.
Your grass is weaker in cold, snowy conditions, so make sure you don't leave anything heavy on your lawn through winter, or try to move anything heavy across it. While walking on your turf simply may be unavoidable, be wary of excessive footfall if you want your lawn ideas looking their best when spring rolls around.
