Halloween is in three days and Valley Green has been celebrating by educating customers about the scary things that can happen to lawns in winter. Disease, pests, and dead grass are just a few of the problems that can occur during winter in the northeast. Winter is coming pretty fast so make sure your lawn is prepared with all the products you need for your lawn to survive the winter. Have a happy and safe Halloween and enjoy our article this week on the scary things that can happen to your lawn during winter.
The Scary Things That Can Happen to Your Lawn During Winter
Lawn Desiccation May Occur
Lawns usually go dormant in the heat of summer and during cold winter temperatures, however, there are only so many of winter’s extreme conditions that grass can take. When winter weather turns windy and extremely cold, moisture can be sucked directly from the grasses’ blade, and this is what causes desiccation. This type of turf problem is most common where there is moisture run off but particularly long blades with an exposed surface are the most susceptible. Desiccation often goes unnoticed until the spring because the turf does not grow. Desiccated turf also turns brown which is a common color for all grass to turn in the winter. Unfortunately, the only way to fix desiccation is reseed the areas that have died in the spring.
Snow Mold Can Develop
Snow mold tends to develop during periods of heavy snow cover that stick around for long periods of time. There are two types of snow mold, grey snow mold, and pink snow mold. It is recognizable by the colored circles and web-like substance it leaves on the grass. Homeowners and landscapers often fail to notice snow mold until spring when the snow melts. It can also become noticeable when a winter thaw occurs. The best way to take care of snow mold is to wait until the weather warms and the snow melts. Rake the matted snow mold grass and allow the soil to dry out.
Voles Appear in Winter
These small mammals love to create tunnels underneath your lawn in the winter. Voles love to eat the roots of the grass and if you notice thin, sunken areas in your lawn with areas where the grass and roots are completely eaten, you likely have a vole infestation. Like many other types of winter damage, you may not notice vole damage until the spring. You can trap or repel voles but getting rid of them might be hard if there is a large population of them.