Stop Killing the Lawn in Winter
Whether you have a traditional green grass lawn or one of the alternative varieties that are gaining momentum lately, like bee lawns , clover lawns , or tapestry lawns , you probably want it to be intact when spring arrives. will eventually come. You also probably don’t want to waste time and energy maintaining it during the winter.
The good news is that you really don’t have to do much to make this happen – just don’t kill him. Here’s how to avoid it.
Find a place to dump the shoveled snow
When you’re clearing the sidewalk or driveway, it’s convenient to dump snow on the lawn, but try to avoid it if possible, especially if you’ve used de-icer on the sidewalk. (More on this in a moment.) Both the salt in the deicer and the weight of the snow can damage your lawn.
Gently shovel
Speaking of digging, pay attention to what you are doing as you approach the edge of the lawn. In other words, try not to remove pieces of lawn or soil along with the snow.
Do not use deicers containing sodium chloride.
Okay, back to de-icers. Traditionally, salt or products containing sodium chloride have been used to melt ice and snow on sidewalks and other pavements. But according to Richard Jauron , a gardener at Iowa State University, these compounds damage your lawn the most.
This is because when the soil has a high level of salt, lawns and other plants cannot absorb enough water, even if there may be a lot of it (thanks to snowfall). This leads to a condition called “physiological drought,” Jauron explains.
Instead of using sodium chloride deicers, he recommends using calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and magnesium chloride deicers, which are less harmful to lawns and plants.
Avoid pedestrian and vehicle traffic
When the soil is compacted , it affects the lawn’s drainage and ability to absorb nutrients, so it’s best to avoid walking, driving, or parking on the lawn whenever possible. We are not saying that children should not be allowed to play in the snow on the lawn, but this should be considered when choosing a winter playground.
Those who live in areas that get enough snow to need a snow blower or plow their driveway may want to place thin wooden or metal stakes around the perimeter of their lawn. This will allow the person doing the snow removal to know where the driveway ends.