Lawn care is a year round job. Even in regions where the winters
are snowy, you will have to plow and use a snow blower for the
season. During the winter, you should also be researching and
preparing for the spring season.
Re-seeding is a common spring activity. It could be a good idea
to re-seed in the late fall instead though. The seeds will be
pushed into the soil by the weight of the snow, and the cold
temperatures will cause them to lay dormant until the spring,
when they will be well planted in good mud and ready to grow.
Fresh grass will be present within a couple of weeks after spring
arrives. Planting the seeds before the first snow will also help
to fight against weeds and crabgrass, since the grass will grow
sooner and be more likely to crowd out the weeds.
As soon as spring arrives, you can apply the spring fertilizer
that is recommended. It will help them grow with proper
nutrients from the start, while adding one more protective
element against weed growth (if you use a weed controlling
fertilizer).
Another thing that you can do in the fall to prepare for the
spring is to cut the grass as late as possible in the fall. This
will keep the grass short over winter, which will help to prevent
the problem of thatching, where blades of grass are lain on top
of each other under the snow, where they are compressed and can
die. You should also rake in the spring. This will clean up any
thatching that occurred, allowing oxygen to get to the soil.
If your soil has become hard or compacted, you can aerate your
lawn. You can add a special attachment to a riding mower, or
pull a roller with spikes across your yard. If you do not have a
riding mower, you can cheaply aerate with unique shoes with
spikes on the bottom of them. Simply wear them and walk around
your yard. It will allow air to penetrate the soil, while also
allowing fertilizer to get deeper into the soil.
After you de-thatch and aerate in the spring, you can continue
regular lawn care by controlling weeds, seeding, applying lawn fertilizer, mowing, and irrigating.
