---
title: Winter Lawn Care Tips
description: These lawn care winterizing tips don’t cost much and don’t take up much time but can yield great rewards for your yard come Spring. 
---

[Green Meadow Lawncare Learning Center](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com)

# [Winter Lawn Care Tips](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/winter-lawn-care-tips)

 Written by [Nate Bahler](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/author/nate-bahler) | Oct 28, 2020 7:42:29 PM

*Winters can put a lot of stress on a lawn if you aren’t careful. To make sure you are ready, take a look at some of the tips below. *

*In many cases, these winterizing tips don’t cost much and don’t take up much time but can yield great rewards come Spring. *

*Here’s what you can do to get your lawn ready for a cold, New England winter. *

## **Will salt or de-icers damage my lawn?**

### Yes! This is a big yes. When you shovel walkways that have been de-iced with salt, try to avoid shoveling this snow onto your lawn. 

### Salt can prevent your lawn from absorbing essential nutrients.  If some salt does run off onto your lawn, get rid of it by flushing the area with water several times. 

## **Should I fertilize my lawn before winter?**

### We recommend a slow release winter fertilizer with micronutrients. Late fall is the best time of year to fertilize cool season grasses. 

See our [Premium Fertilization Program](https://www.greenmeadowlawncare.com/premium-fertilization-program) here. 

- [**Top 5 Benefits of Snow for Your Lawn**](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/top-5-benefits-of-snow-for-your-lawn)

## **Why is raking leaves so important?**

Anything you may have missed during autumn clean up - its not too late to get to it!

### Leaves left in yard can lead to water build up/fungus/pests/diseases/bare spots and could stunt the growth of new grass. 

**Pro tip**: Late fall is a great time to start a compost pile. Put all of those leaves to work! 

## **Should I overseed my lawn before winter?**

### Dormant Seeding can out-perform spring seeding; research has shown that seeds laid in dormancy can produce grass as much as half a month sooner than seeds laid in springtime.

- [Top 10 Benefits of Dormant Seeding](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/dormant-seeding-why-should-i-seed-my-lawn-in-late-fall)
- [**Fall Seeding vs Dormant Seeding**](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/fall-seeding-vs-dormant-seeding)
- [**Times of Year to Seed Your Lawn \[Best to Worst\]**](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/times-to-over-seed-your-lawn)

## **Trees/Shrubs in winter:**

- ### Prune in late winter so that fresh wounds will have new growth shortly after they are trimmed. 
- ### Applying mulch around the base of your trees and shrubs insulates soil to maintain soil moisture and maintain a consistent soil temperature.  Leave some space between mulch and tree trunk to avoid bark rot or insect problems. 

## **How should I mow my lawn leading up to winter?**

### You want to gradually lower the height as winter approaches.  Take it down 1 notch on your mower at a time.  No lower than 2" is recommended for the Northeast.  

- [**How to Mow My Lawn Like A Professional**](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/how-do-i-mow-my-lawn-like-a-professional)

**Debris:**

- Pick up any fallen branches. This will make your life easier come spring and any additional weight on top of snow can cause **soil compaction**.
- Remove acorns, leaves and other vegetation.

**Equipment:**

- Tune up that equipment that got a lot of use through Spring, Summer and Fall.
- Winterize and blow out irrigation systems.  A lot of companies will also check to make sure seals are not leaking.  Make a plan to get them fixed this fall or in Spring.  Having your irrigation system working effectively will save you money.

 

*Since 2007, Green Meadow Lawn Care has provided homeowners throughout the greater Tolland, Connecticut area with premium fertilization programs, tick control, mosquito management, 3X core aeration & seed and tree & shrub care. *

*Visit our *[*Learning Center*](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/)* to find out more about how our services can help you or visit our*[ *Youtube Channel*](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZzJAZmz2qVfbPc1fQOf5Ig) *to view more in our Learning Center Series.*

*To speak to our Customer Service Manager, please call* *Dave (view*[ *Dave's video bio*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_5B_B-jbQ) *here) with any questions. Dave has been in the industry for 30 years and is always happy to help with his expert advice.  *

**860-870-5700 x1**

[View full post](https://blog.greenmeadowlawncare.com/winter-lawn-care-tips)

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