As the colder months approach, that lush green lawn you diligently nurtured during the warmer days may quickly become a distant memory.
Scores of gardeners relentlessly sweep away fallen leaves from their turf, while many observe the morning glaze of dew or frost adorning their grass.
UK-based Weather and Radar highlight that the inaugural frost typically sets in across many inland areas within the first 10 days of November, although parts of Scotland might witness it up to a month sooner, with northern locations generally experiencing earlier frosts.
Finding dew on your grass is an unmistakable indicator that your lawn could become fragile and brittle, notes gardening guru Fiona Jenkins fromMyJobQuote.
Discussing with Express.co.uk, Fiona elaborated: “Dew falls when there is too much moisture in the air to be held as water vapour and forms droplets of condensation on objects or plants on the ground. In cold weather, this water freezes and forms what we know as frost.”
She went on to say: “Even when the air temperature is above freezing, a ground frost can form because the ground is colder. In particular, grass can be affected by frost even when other surfaces on the ground are not. This is due to the inability of grass to retain heat.”
Nonetheless, Fiona issued a cautionary note: “If the frozen grass is walked on, the blades will break and can die off, leaving brown footprints on your lawn that can take a long time to disappear. This is why you should always use the path in your garden, not the grass when it’s frosty, and also keep pets off the lawn when possible.”
She commented: “Dry, cold air and winter winds can add to the problem of brittle grass by causing the blades to lose even more moisture and essential nutrients.”
Strengthening your lawn before the harsh winter weather is simple. All you require is a lawn mower and an aerator.
Getting your lawn ready for the winter season will provide your grass with the best opportunity to endure the chilly months and give it a boost come springtime.
Fiona advised: “Before winter sets in, there are things you can do to protect your grass. Raise the height of the mower blades in autumn to cut the grass to no lower than two to three inches.”
“This will allow it to absorb enough nutrients and moisture to survive the cold weather.”
Regarding aeration, utilise an aerator tool to treat areas with compact soil that are susceptible to waterlogging. The gardening expert suggested: “Feed high-quality potassium and phosphate to promote root growth in winter. Overseed bare patches of ground with new grass seed.”
For those residing in colder regions that frequently experience snowfall, Fiona emphasised the necessity of removing snow from the lawn surface as swiftly as possible.
“When you shovel snow, don’t pile it on top of your grass or other plant life as the weight will crush them and snow mould can occur”, she warned.
Snow mould is a fungal disease that results in patches of grass dying off, but it’s straightforward to prevent with prompt shovelling and the addition of garden fleece.
Fiona explained that while it’s not feasible to shield your entire garden with protective fleece against frost, “You can protect your grass from moisture-stripping winter winds by adding windbreaks such as hedges or low walls.”