As the cooler season is rolling in, it is important to prepare your lawn for the biting winter weather ahead. The most important step any lawn owner can take to protect their turf is to winterize the lawn. A late winterization is the last fertilizer we apply before the winter. When the cooler weather arrives, the grass goes dormant to preserve both its stored up nutrients and water. This fertilization boosts the turf’s nutrients and immunity just like if you were to take vitamins.
Helps the roots of the grass absorb and store nutrients.
Did you know that the peak growth in winter grass types is in the fall? This is why it is essential to provide all the nutrients that your turf needs. Some of the ingredients that you may find in winterizer are potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorous. Potassium is especially important during the winter months because it is required in the processes of energy production and transportation of nutrients throughout the grass. By providing potassium to your grass in the fall, the strength of the roots will increase and allow the grass to better prepare for dormancy.
Grass fertilized in the winter grows fuller in the spring.
One of the best ways for us to guarantee that the aesthetics of your lawn will be preserved is to apply a late winterizer. When grass is fed an ample amount of nutrients before the winter, the turf growth comes back much quicker in the spring. The grass can also grow back thicker and fuller than the previous season. It is important to note again that cold season grasses, such as Kentucky Blue Grass, thrive the best in the fall. Since spring is not the peak time of production for cool-season grasses, the fall fertilizer gives them a head start in the spring.
Prevent against diseases.
While it may seem that there is very little liveliness in the ground in winter, there is actually quite a lot of activity. Not only are the roots of the grass active, but pathogens can thrive in specific winter conditions as well. Some fungi, such as Brown Patch, prefer moist conditions that the cool months provide. In order to prevent your turf from becoming a host to these diseases, it is important to boost the grasses’ immunity through fertilization.
When your turf is at its healthiest, it is most likely to be able to fight off pathogens. Grasses use their starches and sugars to develop even stronger roots for spring. This is also why fertilizer is especially beneficial to new seedlings because it supports root growth. Younger grass plants are most susceptible to diseases in the winter, but winterizing your lawn can strengthen seedlings as well as mature grasses.
Increases the chances of survival in the winter.
It is important to know that your grass does not typically die in the winter even if it turns brown. When the grass goes dormant as the weather cools, the roots are active and require sustenance in order to stay alive for the warm seasons. The roots act as both a nutrient storage unit and an anchor to keep the plant body in the ground. When you apply a late winterizer, there is a higher chance of your grasses’ survival through harsh winters. The roots will be able to withstand heavy snowfalls, snow salts, and freezing temperatures if the grass is fed proper nutrients in the autumn season.
Increases the greenness of the lawn in the spring.
The aesthetics of your grass frequently correlates to the health of your plants as a whole. Have you ever wondered why grass gets brown and dry in the winter as if it has died, and yet it comes back every year? Instead of dying, the grass is actually preserving its water in the roots underground for the spring. When we apply a late winterizer, we ensure that the turf has plentiful resources to survive the winter, so the grass will regrow even thicker and more vibrant in the spring. Applying a late winterizer can prolong the vibrancy and vitality of your lawn. The most effortless way to a green lawn is to ensure a healthy lawn!
Applying a late winterizer has several benefits to ensure that your grass is healthiest. If you would like to know more about our fertilization process and our rates, don’t hesitate to call us at (413) 998-7829 or email us at info@missiongreenservices.com.
