Grass goes dormant in winter, using its energy to survive in freezing temperatures instead of actively growing. Although your lawn may fade and even turn brown as the weather cools, it isn't dying—it's just preparing to survive the harsh weather. This November, have a professional take these lawn maintenance steps to keep grass strong and healthy until spring.

Fertilization

November is the ideal time to apply winter fertilizer. Tall fescue grasses can stay green throughout the colder months if they have the nutrients they need. Winter fertilizers include nitrogen, an essential building block of chlorophyll, which gives grass its green color. Other fertilizer nutrients include potassium and phosphorous, which promote strong root growth and make plants hardier.

Your grass plants will benefit from a last “feeding” of these nutrients. They will store any excess fertilizer they don't use in their roots. When warmer temperatures arrive in the spring, the plants will already have the food they need for a first growth spurt. Before fertilizing, clear leaves and thatch from the lawn’s surface, so the fertilizer can reach the roots below.

Poa Annua Treatment

Poa annua, more commonly called annual bluegrass or annual meadow grass, is a weed. It grows quickly and steals nutrients and water from the other plants in the soil, taking over entire lawns. Late November is the ideal time to spot treat Poa annua because it’s still immature. It hasn’t rooted as firmly in the lawn’s ecosystem and is easier to kill.

If the grass is allowed to survive the winter, it will rapidly take over in spring. The only way to effectively eliminate it at this point will be with a post-emergent weed killer, which can also kill other grass and plants. Spot treating twice in the winter, once around Thanksgiving and once around Christmas, can reduce up to 90% of Poa annua plants.

Let R & T Lawn Services Inc. get your garden ready for winter. Based in Denver, NC, these lawn maintenance professionals serve the counties of Catawba and Lincoln. A locally-owned and operated business, they are familiar with the area's climate and plants and know how to create beautiful lawns in the unique southern ecosystem. Visit their website for a list of services, including fertilization, grub control, and more. To schedule a lawn maintenance service, call (704) 589-0713.