There is nothing quite as special as spending time in your garden. Whether it’s pottering about in the flower beds or lying back on the lawn with a cocktail on a hot summer’s day, our gardens are part of what kept us all sane during the pandemic.
As we begin to enter the winter months, however, there are understandably going to be worried for those who have invested a lot of time and energy into their gardens, particularly their lawns. The lawn is the beating heart of most gardens and if the lawn is in a bad condition, you could have the most glorious flower beds in the world, and it wouldn’t make a difference.
So, here are a few Lawn care tips to consider when preparing your lawn for winter and keeping it thriving for next spring.
When to Stop Trimming
The first thing people will typically ask when it comes to lawn care in the winter is when to put the cordless trimmer and lawnmower away. It will depend, generally, on when the temperature starts to drop.
Some years, you might want to stop cutting the lawn in October but this year we’ve had a particularly warm October in the UK.
November, however, is when you might want to stop entirely, perhaps just making a few light trims here and there.
Your lawn will stop growing when the weather drops below 5C at night and cutting at this time will damage the grass and prevent further growth. You should also avoid walking over the grass when it’s particularly cold.
Keeping Things Tidy
Sweeping away any leaves and branches from overhanging trees and bushes should, of course, be a priority as if this debris is left to fester and rot it can lead to great troubles later on. This is particularly true if your garden is full of deciduous trees which shed leaves in the autumn.
You might also find areas of compacted soil that won’t grow healthy plants. This can be fixed by using organic matter such as wood chips that will slowly decompose over the winter and generate a richer piece of soil on the other side of the season.
For a faster quick-fix, meanwhile, you could till the soil and use compost before sowing fresh seeds with a thin layer of mulch.
Replanting the Lawn
Of course, winter will end, and spring will come again. Towards the end of March, as the first signs of the season begin to reveal themselves, reseed any blank areas of soil where grass should be and spread extra nutrients for added growth.
And always remember to mow your lawn at least every two weeks. Because your lawn is like your hair – the more you cut it, the longer it will grow in the long term.
Taking Pride in Your Garden
The advantage of a well-maintained lawn means that in later months, you can decorate your garden without it looking too busy and crowded. Whether it’s garden parties, outdoor picnics for date night, or just a read in the garden, you want to accessorize your garden, keeping things luxe and simple to maintain such a look for your garden.
Making your outdoor patio a part of the house where you, your family, and your friends want to spend time– and appreciate the effort you’ve put in!
How Gardening Can Benefit You
Gardening has also been proven to be beneficial not just for the environment but for our mental health – such as having exposure to sunlight that increases your Vitamin D levels and is a great form of exercise.
Getting the kids involved will help develop their bones, teeth, and muscles as well as their awareness of the outdoors. Providing your child with small tasks and giving them the responsibility of taking care will grow their skills and knowledge.
Such tasks you can set your child include having them seed their plants or flowers or taking care of fish or frogs in a pond in a dedicated location in your backyard. Adding plants and flowers to your outdoors will enhance your backyard makeover.
Conclusion
Another way you can include the kids and excel in their development is via growing your fruit and vegetables and then taking these into the kitchen and preparing meals with your child. Teaching them the importance of organic and fresh produce – rather than processed.
The mood-boosting activity can be looked at as a peaceful personal theory type with it being said to decrease the risk of dementia and bring the community together which can be especially helpful with those who experience loneliness within their community and struggle to talk to others.
Find Out More
