With October’s colourful arrival, it also is a gentle reminder that we are getting closer and closer to having that first snowfall in the Calgary and Red Deer areas (it seems scary to think, doesn’t it!).
The first snowfall usually means chaos in the city with slippery roads, people rushing to get their winter tires put on, scrambling to find your snow brush for your vehicle windshield and searching for warm winter clothing. Not to mention the arrival of cold temperatures that we are definitely not used to after a record breaking hot summer!
If you haven’t had time to do a fall clean up of your yard, now is really the time to do that work, but if you don’t have time, it is not too late to get help with that from us. Please contact your local office to see if we are still booking Fall Clean Ups in your area.
Part of managing your yard involves winterizing your lawn so that it can maintain being healthy over the course of winter. As Albertans, we know just how much winter can impact us and our landscape – with bone-chilling temperatures, blizzards, plenty of snowfall and the fluctuating chinooks, which many of us are grateful for in the cold snaps.
So, why winterize your lawn you may ask?
“While I relish our warm months, winter forms our character and brings out our best.” Tom Allen
You can think of it as being similar to why we maintain our furnace and check the filter before the cold months of winter, when it really has to perform; to give a boost to the lawn so that it can withstand the winter climate in Alberta and lessen the chance of issues come spring. You don’t want your furnace to break down in frigid temperatures and the same can be said of your lawn.
How should you ‘winterize’ your lawn? Here are some good things to do to start:
Fertilize
- The first thing everyone should do is fertilize your lawn during the fall season. By doing this, you are adding a layer of nutrients to your lawn that will help it battle the cool days of winter, plus provide more support to the grass’ root structure.
Rake & Remove Leaves
- Another important task is to rake and remove any leaves on your lawn. With the consistent windy days Alberta gets, this task may seem redundant, but it needs to be done. Removing the leaves allows the lawn to continue getting the oxygen it requires and sunshine, which are both critical aspects to a healthy lawn appearance. Learn more about the importance of raking leaves in our blog, “Raking Leaves: Is It Really Necessary?”
Mow
- As the season draws to a close and your grass stops growing, it is time for the last cut before winter. Cut your lawn to 2″ to 2-1/2″, but no shorter.
Aerate
- Aerating should be done once per year. If you didn’t have a chance to do this in the spring, then consider doing it now. Not sure if your lawn needs aerating? Below are some signs that your lawn may be compacted, which you can learn more about in this blog, “Signs Your Lawn May Need Aerating”.
Don’t have time to winterize your lawn this year? Then be sure to contact us.
Click here for our list of services.
Please check with the office to see if these services are still available in your area or to request a quote..
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