In northern parts of the US, the first killing frost is usually in September–occasionally August. Frost signals that you should start getting your yard ready for winter. Winter-ready yards regenerate earlier in the spring. Here are a few tips and tricks you can use.
Continue Mowing
The ideal winter grass height is about two inches. Shorter grass puts more energy into growing root structures and helps prevent snow mold. Continue mowing your lawn until it becomes dormant. Do not mow when the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or when there is still frost on the grass. You will shatter and damage the blades.
Patch Bald Spots
Fall is the best time to seed or apply sod to bare patches on your lawn. The new grass gets started before winter and thrives in spring. Fertilizing the entire lawn before winter helps it survive winter and gives the grass a head start in spring. Continue to water the lawn until a week before freeze-up if there is little or no rainfall.
Aerate the Lawn
Aerate your lawn just before winter sets in. Aeration loosens compacted soil and the holes it leaves allow fertilizer to fall among grass roots. Loose soil absorbs water more easily–decreasing the amount of pooling during rainfall and snowmelt in the spring.
Clean Up Fallen Leaves
Remove heavy blankets of leaves from the lawn to prevent mold, snow mold, and dead patches in the lawn. The leaves can be used in your compost or as mulch.
Your lawn benefits from the organic matter in mulched leaves and grass. Light leaf-fall should be chopped up with the lawnmower and left to add nutrients to your lawn.
Pull Out Annual Plants
Once frost finishes off your annual flowers, pull them out of beds and pots. Compost, chip, or burn them. (Burning gets rid of pest infestations and diseases.) Pull out any remaining weeds and work up the dirt to allow rain and snow melt to soak into beds. Empty and clean out flower pots.
Prepare Perennial Plants
Fall is the time to prune perennial plants to give them a good start in the spring. Get rid of any weeds around them–then add 3” – 4” of mulch. Perennial plant roots continue to grow until freeze-up. Water them weekly until the ground is frozen. The stronger the root, the better the chance of over-wintering and having healthy plants in spring.
Prepare Shrubs, Hedges, and Trees
Late fall, winter, and early spring are the best times to prune trees, hedges, and shrubs–after they have become dormant and sap is in the roots. Plant new deciduous species until about a month before freeze-up.
All trees–new or existing, deciduous and evergreen–benefit from being well watered before winter. Continue watering until just before the ground freezes. Adding 3” – 4” of wood chips or leaf mulch around trees helps protect roots during winter.
Prepare Your Vegetable Garden
Harvest all the remaining produce and remove all plant debris and weeds from your garden or beds. Use one of the following ideas for your garden:
- Fallow. Leave the soil black to rest for the winter.
- Compost. Cover the garden or beds with 2” or 3” of compost–if you have enough. Add a thin layer of straw to prevent erosion.
- Cover Crop. Seed a cover crop like mustard, winter rye, or peas that can be incorporated into the soil in the spring before planting. (Clover can be used as a cover crop but be aware that it could attract wireworms.)
Clean and Store Tools and Equipment
Drain hoses, winterize outdoor faucets to keep them from freezing, and store all equipment and tools. Take the time to clean and sharpen trowels, hoes, lawn mower blades, spades, etc. so they are ready for spring use. Drain the fuel from power equipment, clean filters, and check spark plugs and connections. Getting ready for spring yard work and planting is best begun in the fall.
