5 Winter Lawn Care Genoa, IL Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

Winter is here already and even if it didn’t strike with all its might, you need to be prepared for the worst. The cold season affects your lawn, garden, and overall landscape in a severe manner, as rain and snow, frost, strong, and cold winds have a devastating impact on the soil, plants’ roots and seeds. Lawn care Genoa, IL experts identified a series of common mistakes homeowners make while preparing their lawns and gardens for the winter. In order to avoid making them in the future, let’s see what you should do to protect your garden from the winter problems.

1. Insufficient Watering

One of the most common mistakes made in winter is that homeowners rely on the rain and snow to hydrate the plants and keep the soil moist. Lawn care Genoa, IL specialists say that it is the lack of water in winter that kills off most roots and plants, and not frost or blizzards. You need to ask for expert advice on when and how you should water the soil in winter, to hydrate the plants and keep them safe from disease or overwatering – in case you get indeed a lot of rain or snowfall.

2. Incorrect Fertilization

Fertilization in winter is not an easy feat, especially if you don’t have expert knowledge or experience. You may not know this, but granular fertilizers don’t match with winter, as they don’t dissolve properly under cold temperatures. Incorrect and inefficient fertilization during these months allows the development of root disease. You should ask for a specialist’s advice on proper winter plants’ fertilization. Use cold-adapted nutrients to have a lush healthy lawn blooming in spring.

3. Inefficient Application of Mulch

Winter preparations always should include applying a layer of mulch. The problem is, however, that many homeowners don’t choose the right highly-organic and highly-nutritious type of mulch. Also, overzealously, many apply thick layers to make sure the plants are protected. The mistake is that the mulch layer shouldn’t go above the recommended 7-8 inches height. Other lawn care Rockton, IL experts also advise us to cover as much ground as possible. This can be done by spreading the mulch layer on a two-foot area around a tree or a shrub.

4. Irregular Raking Activities

Fallen leaves may have a protective role for the soil and grass, but not in winter. They make a great trigger for mold, fungi and disease infestations, stimulating infections and soil or roots’ vulnerability. You should rake the lawn regularly to keep it clean and safe.

5. Improper Weed Control

There are plenty of weeds which can invade the property in winter, but under no circumstance you should use weed killer. It doesn’t work well in cold temperatures and can damage the soil. Lawn care Genoa, OH experts recommend you call in the experts for correct weed control in winter. Leaving weeds have their way is equally dangerous, so anti-weed measures are mandatory.