Prepare Your Lawn and Garden for Winter

Don’t let procrastination get the better of you — there’s plenty of growing that can be done in the fall. It’s the perfect time to prepare your lawn and garden for winter.  We have tips to show you how to winterize your lawn and garden and prepare it for the harsh winter weather. Here’s a look at what you can do this season.

Mow. Just because it's colder outside doesn't mean you're off the hook for mowing. Continue to mow the lawn until the grass stops growing. Not only will it present a more attractive appearance, but it will make raking easier, too.

Aerate the turf. Although this can be done in the spring, fall is a great time to aerate the grass because you won’t be walking on the soil plugs that are removed in aeration. You can use a manual aerator or rent power equipment that gets the job done more efficiently.

Reseed bare spots. Fall’s cooler temperatures and more abundant moisture make it easy to reseed troublesome bare spots in the lawn. Scratch the surface to loosen soil, sprinkle grass seed and cover lightly with straw or other mulch to prevent bird browsing. Keep the seed well-watered until the grass is established.

Deal with weeds. Remove weeds by hand with a dandelion tool or spot treat with a broadleaf herbicide. This is most important with perennial weeds such as dandelion and ground ivy. 

Fertilize. Fertilizing the lawn in the fall can help strengthen the turf for winter. Ask your Lowe’s garden associate about a fertilizer that’s right for your grass and your region. 

Spread compost. This works anywhere, but it’s especially useful after aerating a lawn because the compost can fill the gaps where the plugs were removed. Fall rains will help work the beneficial microbes and nutrients further into the soil. 

Fall is an excellent time to start your own compost pile. Here’s a way to put your yard waste to good use as a superb soil supplement.

1. When choosing a location for your compost pile, make sure it's close enough to your garden to allow you to easily carry material back and forth. 
2. Start the pile with green material, from leaves to clippings and non-meat kitchen scraps. The second layer should be brown material, including garden soil, brown leaves, straw and coffee grounds from your kitchen. Thoroughly moisturize these layers before adding another green layer. Top it all off with garden soil. 
3. Throughout the season, turn your mound. When it's black, crumbly and sweet-smelling throughout, your pile will be ready to use as garden fertilizer. Learn more about composting.

Wrap tree trunks to avoid frost cracking. Wrapping the trunks prevents damage to thin-barked species in the winter when sun-warmed sap quickly freezes at nightfall and causes the bark to split. Use paper tree wrap, starting an inch below soil level and up to the lowest branches. Adhere with duct tape. Remove in the spring to allow new growth. For more information, read Understand Frost and Freeze Dates. 

Protect plants from pests. Surround valuable shrubs and trees with wire-mesh screening (called hardware cloth) to prevent animal browsing on foliage.

Preserve moisture. Evergreens are most susceptible to drying out in winter. Make sure plants are watered well going into winter. Consider spraying with an antidesiccant or wrapping plants with a double layer of burlap.

Protect rosebushes. While some of the newer shrub roses don’t require winter protection, older hybrid teas and floribundas may. Where winters are cold, use rose cones or make a cylinder of your own and fill with chopped leaves for the winter. Remove in early spring.

Add mulch. Mulching helps prepare your yard for winter by guarding plants against colder temperatures and harsher weather. Mulch keeps the soil at a more even temperature and helps prevent soil heaving from forcing plants out of the ground. Wait until after a hard freeze, then spread it around the base of trees and shrubs in your yard. 

Don't pile mulch up around the trunk. Pull the mulch 1 to 2 inches away from woody stems and tree trunks. This prevents excess moisture from building up around the trunk which causes a host of problems, including poor air circulation, rotting stems and bark and root damage.

Water well. Don’t stress plants needlessly. If you experience a dry fall, you may need to water plants even after they start to go dormant. Make sure they're braced for winter in cold climates by watering them until the ground freezes. In warm climates, water throughout the winter if rain is lacking. 

Add color. Plant cool-season flowers such as pansies and mums, and foliage plants like ornamental kale. They’ll flourish in the cooler temperatures and even stand up to frost. Plus, they’ll add a much-needed burst of color to your garden or outdoor space.

Think bulbs. Fall is the time to plant spring-blooming flower bulbs such as crocus, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, daffodils and tulips. A little work now will pay rich rewards next spring when your garden comes alive with flowers.

Think bulbs again. Garlic and shallots can be planted now for harvest next summer. The big difference is that this time, the deferred gratification is found at the dinner table. Other cool-season crops include carrots, spinach, beets, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Plant away. Fall’s cooler temperatures and more abundant moisture are perfect for helping recently planted (or transplanted) trees and shrubs adjust before resuming growth next year. While the tops of the plants may not show growth, roots are often hard at work until the plant goes dormant.

Restore plant vigor. Fall is a good time to divide spring- and summer-blooming perennials. Look for those that have a lot of fresh, vibrant growth around a less-vigorous center section. Break them into clumps with a sharp spade or root saw, then replant in separate holes.

Sow a new crop. Sow spinach and lettuce seeds for a late fall crop. Extend the season even more by covering with straw late in the season when temperatures go below freezing. You can also cover root crops such as carrots and rutabagas with straw to facilitate winter harvests.

Grow a cover crop. Got bare soil? Grow living mulch by sowing rye, clover or another fast-growing cover crop. In spring, you can turn the temporary cover crop into the soil to add nutrients.

Collect leaves. Rake leaves so they don’t smother the grass. This is especially important with large leaves such as maple. Or mow the lawn and collect the mix of clippings and shredded leaves to use as mulch for flower and shrub beds or add to your compost pile.

Clean up the yard. Pick up fallen fruit. Remove dead annuals. Cut back spent perennials. This gives the garden a neater appearance and may reduce the chance of pests overwintering in the debris and causing problems next year.

Leave some plants alone. While it’s good to cut back some perennials, others can be left in place for winter interest. These include ornamental grasses and thick-stemmed plants such as Russian sage, taller sedums and mums.

Start a compost pile. All those fall leaves can make a great addition to the green kitchen scraps your household creates. The mix of brown and green materials speeds up the composting process. Don’t compost meat or dairy products (they attract rodents). And toss plants that are diseased, infested or going to seed in the trash.

Pond maintenance. If you have a pond, remove fallen leaves and drain the water by 25% to 50%. Store the pump indoors and add a bacterial additive to the water to speed the decomposition of organic matter.

Store summer bulbs. Where winters are cold, you can save summer bulbs — such as dahlia, gladiolus and canna — for use next year. Dig them up after the first frost, dry out the root structures for a few days and then shake off the excess soil. Store them for the winter in peat moss or sawdust in a cool, dark basement or root cellar.

Collect seeds. Got a favorite annual that really impressed you this year? Collect the seeds and store them for use next year. Put the seeds in paper envelopes stuffed in a glass jar and store in a dry area indoors. This works best with old-fashioned, open-pollinated varieties, not modern hybrids.

Prepare for the next growing season. Clean and sharpen garden tools before putting them away. Disconnect the garden hose, drain it and store it with your garden tools. Wipe down outdoor furniture and store under cover. Store patio cushions in a dry place to prevent moisture. If you can’t bring them indoors, a deck box helps protect them from the elements and keeps them looking great.

Preparing your lawn and garden in the fall for the winter takes a little work but the pay off in the end will be worth it. You’re helping it to better withstand winter’s harsh conditions. Fertilizing, aerating and mulching all help prepare your grass for strong, new growth with an eye towards a lush, green lawn in the spring. Caring for trees, plants and flower beds in the fall helps them establish strong root systems throughout the cooler weather. Take care of and winterize your lawn and garden now and it will reward you with its beauty later.