Winter is a beautiful season and it provides ample opportunity for you to enjoy it to the fullest. But while the snow might look stunning on your lawn, it creates havoc on your garden. As soon as the snow melts, you will realize that your carefully maintained lawn is not as manicured and fresh as it was before. Your turf faces the most damaging problems likes snow mold, voles, crown hydration, winter desiccation, and more. It is essential to create an efficient and successful recovery plan to help your lawn get back in shape.
Even the bigger trees and shrubs can get damaged by the freezing cold weather and the accumulated snow. The lack of aeration and warmth leads to a variety of diseases and damaging problems. One of the things you can do to limit the damage is to prepare your lawn before the snow falls. Rake your leaves, improve your drainage, and clear out any excess wild plants or shrubs. This will help you be prepared for the weather and recover faster after the snow has melted.
Here are some things you can do to help your lawn recover from the damaging winter snow:
Crown hydration is one problem that is extremely hard to avoid. The sudden arrival of freezing cold weather immediately after a warm weather spell causes turf grass to absorb excess water. This causes the grass to freeze and the ultimate death of the crown. There is nothing you can do to save your grass from the harsh weather. Check your turf for brown patches and whether there is any green tissue at the roots. If there are green tissues at the bottom, there is a chance your grass might recover. If not, that part of your lawn is dead. When the snow melts, remove the dead grass and possible some inches of the soil to get a fresh batch. Use your broadcast spreader and sow new seeds. Make sure to water your seeds regularly.
Some parts of your lawn will experience lingering snow that takes more time to melt. Such areas might face the problem of snow mold. If you see a pink or grey crusty layer on your turf, your grass has been infected by the snow mold. As the snow melts and the weather warm up, these snow molds generally die. But if it does not, your turf is severely infected and needs an expert recovery plan. You need to firmly rake your affected grass, improve your drainage, and aerate that part of the lawn. If the raking still does not work, then you will have to remove the affected grass, add a light layer of topsoil, and sow new seeds.
Tree branches and shrubs often get broken and damaged during ice storms or due to a heavier accumulation of snow. The damaged branches are more prone to diseases, insect infestation, and such. As soon as the snow melts and the severe winter weather recedes, look for branches that have been broken or damaged. You can prune them yourselves or use a professional if the damage is more critical. One of the things we often do is shake the branches to remove the accumulated snow. This should be strictly avoided as the shaking can damage the limbs and cause them to break. Use your hands or any other equipment to remove the snow.
De-icing salts are super effective and efficient in removing the extra snow accumulated on streets, driveways, walkways, and more. But what people do not realize is just how damaging it is for your grass and plants. The de-icing salt draws all the moisture from your grass or plant cells, leading to desiccation. If you are using these salts to remove the snow from your lawn, there is a major possibility that your lawn grass will wilt and die. One of the things that you can do to recover from the damage is deep watering. A deep watering will help you flush out all the excess salt from the soil and dilute the effect it has on your plants. Water your turf at least once daily to remove any lasting impacts of the salt from your soil. If your grass has already turned brown and has no green tissues left, it is best to remove them and get new seeds sown in.
Most wildlife face trouble getting to their food source and that is why they create underground tunnels or even use your trees and plants to survive. Rodents and other insects will accumulate around your tree’s root in search of food and warmth. Make sure to remove the excess snow from your tree’s roots first. Take an intricate inventory of all the problems and get some professional help if the damages are too severe.
