The cold weather is setting in, but we can't forget about our lawn care before the snow. Here's a great checklist to get your lawn ready for this coming winter.
Choose a winter fertilizer
It sounds crazy, but you should fertilize your lawn before winter sets in. Winter fertilizers are heavy on potassium, which strengthens the roots to help it survive during the cold weather. Colorado tends to have cool-season grasses that reach their prime during the fall weather and benefit the most being fertilized.
Aerate your grass
Aerating your grass allows water and nutrients to reach the roots quicker and easier. Colorado's driest months are November and December, so making sure that water is able to get to the roots faster is important.
Reseed bare spots
Reseeding bare spots in your yard reduces or eliminates competition from weeds growing in the spring. The soil is still warm, which encourages seed germination, while the cool air stimulates grass growth.
Blow out sprinklers
This is important to do before the first real frost, so costly repairs are not in your future. Landscape companies are able to do this for a fee, or if you have an air compressor you can do it yourself. Make sure to turn the water off to the sprinkler line, the outlet drain valve is open, and the backflow device is closed. Connect the hose from the air compressor to the outlet drain valve and when the compressor shows 80 pounds per square inch of pressure, turn on the valves to the different sprinkler zones.
Mulch perennial beds or don't rake leaves or sticks
Mulch, leaves, and sticks act as protection for the roots in colder weather, help to retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth, and protect bare soil from erosion.
Mow the grass until it stops growing
Mowing the lawn, if you can, during the colder months prevents grass from compacting and encouraging mold growth.
Water lawn when possible
November and December are notoriously dry months in Colorado, especially for areas that don't receive a bunch of snow. Try to water at least 1-2 times per month if there's no snow on the ground about mid-day.
Trim perennials
There are some perennials that cannot handle the cold weather and will need to be trimmed back. View the full list here.
Watch out for weeds
Some weeds go dormant in the cold weather, but their seeds are usually waiting to germinate when the weather warms up. Get rid of any established weeds by hand and apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weeds in the spring.