While there are many gardening tasks you can take a break from during the colder fall and winter months, there is one that becomes even more important during this time.
With the leaves falling from the trees and snow potentially appearing, it is very important to clean your lawn regularly this time of year.
Speaking to the Express, Chrissie Handley, lawn care expert at onlineturf.co.uk, said: “You should regularly clear your lawn of debris by raking any snow, leaves etc. that may have fallen onto the grass.
“You should regularly check your lawn for damage such as brown/bare patches or areas of cotton wool/cobweb mold, which is a sign of snow mold.”
Chrissie highlighted snow mold (fusarium patch) as a potential problem, explaining that this is a fungal disease that develops “when there is snow on the lawn, which creates a cold, wet climate for the fungus to thrive.”
Chrissie points out that spotting a fusarium patch can be quite difficult until the snow melts, when you start to see areas of grass where the grass is suffocated and dead.
“The grass in affected areas is unlikely to recover and fungi will continue to thrive even though weather conditions are still cold and wet,” he explained.
“If you clear your lawn regularly in winter, you promote air flow and minimize the occurrence of snow mold.
“It’s very difficult to control fungus once it’s already advanced, so the best way to avoid lawn fungus is to keep up with grass maintenance and provide an inhospitable habitat for the fungus.”
“If you come into the spring and find that your lawn has been affected, you can try to cure nearby areas of the disease by purchasing a fungicide available at local garden centers and home improvement stores.
“You can also reseed damaged areas to encourage regrowth once the disease has been treated.”
Chrissie Handley is a lawn care specialist who works for Online Turf. He is dedicated to helping gardening enthusiasts achieve a lush and healthy lawn year-round, with extensive expertise in mowing, lawn care and seasonal gardening advice.
