Winter Lawn Care Tips for Colorado Homeowners
Caring for your lawn during the winter in Colorado should always be a priority. Colorado lawns may deal with things like snow mold, winter mites, or frost damage. Knowing how to take care of your lawn during the winter months is key to having a lush and healthy lawn in early spring. Remember to adjust your lawn care routine to the conditions and local weather in Colorado. You may also consider hiring a professional lawn care service for the best results.
How to Care for Your Lawn During Winter Months
During the winter season, it might be tempting to forget about lawn care until early spring. However, taking the time to care for your lawn during the winter can make a significant difference in its overall health. Make sure that your lawn is free of debris like leaves and sticks, as they can create an environment for pests and diseases to thrive.
Winter Watering
It’s very important to water your lawn in the late fall through the winter months, especially during dry periods. Our winter watering recommendations are to water 1-2 times per month on days above 50 degrees, watering up to 1” each time. If you have winterized your sprinkler system, you can use a garden hose. On warmer days, watering your Colorado lawn in the morning helps prevent freezing overnight.
Mowing and Winter Lawn Mower Maintenance
Before stowing away your lawn mower for the season, it’s important to do some seasonal tune-ups. Your lawn mower would benefit from changing the oil, checking spark plugs, sharpening mower blades, and emptying the gas tank. Routine winter maintenance on your lawn mower will ensure it’s ready for action when the warmer months return.
Common Lawn Problems During Colorado Winter Months
Lush lawns may also deal with pests or diseases during Colorado winters. With a mix of dry periods and low precipitation to periods of snowfall, snow mold, and lawn mites may be a common concern.
Snow Mold
A common disease in lawns in the Front Range, snow mold appears in moldy circular patches where snow has melted. Snow mold may appear to cause dead grass, but areas normally recover. Cool-season grasses that recently received fall overseeding may be more prone to severe damage. The help the lawn bounce back, aerating in early spring is recommended to alleviate soil compaction. You should also remove built-up thatch or dead grass to promote airflow.
Winter Mites
Winter mites can wreak havoc on your lawn during the colder months. About the size of a speck of dust, lawn mites are hard to see before damage is being done. They feed on turf grass during winter months to early spring, causing brown patches in the lawn. Lawn mites like dry areas which is why winter watering is so important. From December to March, Integrated Lawn Care offers a winter mite suppression service in Colorado Springs. Contact us to learn more.
How to Protect Colorado Trees and Shrubs from Frost Damage
Colorado’s winter nights can be dry and cold, and frost damage to trees and shrubs is a common concern. Shield sensitive plants with burlap or other protective coverings and consider mulching around their base to retain soil moisture and insulate the root systems. Trees and shrubs also need deep-root winter watering. Dry periods of winter with little precipitation can cause distress for landscape plants. Deep root watering injects water directly into the soil to reach the root zone. It promotes healthy root systems and helps protect trees and shrubs from frost damage and drought stress.
Colorado Springs Lawn Care Services for a Healthy Lawn
For homeowners looking for reliable lawn care or tree and shrub care, Integrated Lawn Care is the solution. We offer comprehensive lawn care services, aeration, tree and shrub care, rock bed weed control, winter mower maintenance, and more. Established in 2001, we service Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, Palmer Lake, Peyton, Security-Widefield, Falcon, Black Forest, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for a free quote!