Green lawn in the country is a universal element of landscaping, which can act as a great backdrop for a flower garden, and a safe natural rug for a recreation area. And so that in the fall he would please the freshness of the emerald green grass as long as possible, and in the spring - the absence of bald spots, it is necessary to properly prepare it for the cold. Preparing the lawn for the winter includes a number of activities that we are proposing to talk about today.
If you are too lazy to read the material, you can see the care tips in this video:
For the autumn work, it is necessary to prepare materials:
- Trimmer or lawn mower;
- Aerator or garden pitchfork;
- Fan rake or broom;
- Fertilizer complex at the rate of 3 kg per 100 sq.m;
- Mixture for subseeding.
Watering cessation
Since in September, as a rule, a sufficient amount of rain falls, it is not necessary to organize regular watering specially.
During the period when arid weather is established, you can water the lawn using the sprinkler method. The only condition for watering is to prevent the formation of puddles
Experienced gardeners begin to organize lawn care before the winter from the first half of September and finish a couple of weeks before the first frost
In early October, with a drop in temperature, watering should be stopped altogether to prevent excessive waterlogging of the soil. Otherwise, the plants may weaken and become ill.
The last haircut
In summer, grass mowing should be done almost once a week. With the onset of autumn, as the earth cools and the growth of plants slows down, this procedure is carried out less and less.
At the same time, you can’t do without mowing the lawn before winter. With the onset of cold weather, the overgrown grass will freeze and lie on the ground, where it lay until spring, when the young shoots awaken, it will become a serious obstacle to the growth of green sprouts. That is why mowing the lawn for the winter is always necessary.
The optimal height of the grass after mowing is 5 cm. In a couple of weeks, the plants manage to reach a height of 8 cm, which is most favorable for saving strength and preserving nutrients for wintering
But to guess how many such haircuts will need to be carried out before the onset of cold weather is not always possible. When mowing grass in early September, you cannot be sure that with the onset of Indian summer, the plants will not stretch and they will not have to be cut again. Or vice versa: early frosts will pick up unshorn greens, and it will be too late to mow the lawn for the winter.
The most suitable time when you can mow the lawn before winter: for the northern regions - the end of September, for the middle lane - in early October, and in the southern regions - mid-October.
By sending mowed grass to the beds, you can pre-prepare humus for fertilizing under crops, thereby reducing the amount of spring work
According to general recommendations for the care of lawn grass, the last mowing of the lawn before winter is carried out two weeks before the onset of the first frost.
The need for nutrition
Ensuring stable growth of plants in the spring will allow fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. Regarding the composition of fertilizers, the opinions of gardeners differ. Some believe that in the autumn period, plants especially need phosphorus and potassium - trace elements that stimulate root formation. Therefore, the main emphasis when feeding the lawn must be done precisely on them. Fertilizing nitrogen, which is a stimulator of green mass growth, should be limited.
Other gardeners argue that decorative lawn throughout the season cannot be maintained without fertilizing with nitrogen. Lawn grasses continue to increase plant mass even with lower temperatures in the autumn months. Nitrogen, without reducing the winter hardiness of plants, makes the color of greenery in the autumn months more saturated.
To ensure the attractiveness of the emerald lawn, amazingly combined with the golden foliage of trees, you can only use complex fertilizers, which include equal parts potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen
Some experts also recommend the use of a deoxidant (chalk, limestone flour), which is useful both for the grass itself and for nearby plantings. The most favorable time for feeding is dry, calm days.
Aeration of the soil
In the overall scope of work, we would also like to include the need for aeration of the soil on which the lawn is equipped. Aeration will allow water to penetrate into the deeper layers of the soil and thereby prevent its stagnation in the form of puddles and ice crusts, which can lead to bald spots on the lawn. The exception is only lawns equipped on a sand basis - water in such soils drains independently.
It is better to carry out aeration in dry weather. To increase the efficiency of the procedure, at each puncture, it is necessary to raise the turf of the lawn with a pitchfork so that it acquires a slightly "disheveled" look. This will ensure adequate air access to the root system and drainage.
Pricking the turf can be done either with a special aerator or with ordinary garden pitchforks. Piercing the lawn must be done to a depth of about 20 cm, withstanding a distance between punctures of 20-30 cm
After completion of soil drainage, it is necessary to give the lawn a rest: in the next 2-3 days, it is advisable not to walk on it. It will take its original form after the first rains.
Cover the soil with mulch
Layers of plant residues, preventing sufficient ventilation of the lawn, provoke the development of dampness, due to which various diseases appear.
In the autumn period, it is also necessary to promptly clean the lawn from fallen leaves, old grass and other debris using a fan rake or a broom
Autumn is a good time to smooth out any irregularities in the lawn that occurred during the summer months.
The composition of the mixture for mulching is determined by the characteristics of the soil on the site. The best option is a mixture consisting of equal parts of land, peat and sand.
In order to increase the fertility of land depleted during the season, the entire lawn area can be covered for the winter with a layer of peat mixed with dry compost.
