Monthly Archives: January 2018

Not Mowing Your Grass During the Winter

You’ve probably heard experienced lawn care experts recommend suspending mowing during the winter season. What science underlies this advice? Why not cut your grass at this time of year?

Dormancy: An Important Rest Period

Most grasses continue growing very slowly during the winter. However, just like trees, grass plants react to the marked change in environmental conditions during colder months of the year. They experience a period of dormancy in which their rate of growth slows down significantly. The plant instead directs energy towards its root system.

Every time you cut back a growing plant (including grasses), you cause some degree of physical stress. While verdant lawns sustain regular mowing during warmer seasons, the consequences of cutting grass plants during cold months may prove fatal. Just as you would not want to prune a tree too heavily, it remains a wise precaution to avoid imposing a lot of unnecessary stress on your lawn during bitterly chill periods of the year. Grass simply does not grow at a rapid pace during colder months.

Control These Winter Weeds

If you’ve longed for a rich, lush green lawn, you may have taken steps in the past to sow grass seeds and apply fertilizer and soil amendments to nourish the turf. While little growth seems to occur during dormant winter months, in Maryland and Virginia some categories of weeds actually begin thriving during this time of year. Without the implementation of effective control measures, some unwelcome weeds may monopolize available resources when spring arrives and interfere with your plans to maintain attractive expanses of grass.

Protecting Your Deck Throughout Winter

Your deck has been your friend during summer; giving you the perfect spot for entertaining friends, basking in the beautiful outdoor weather and often displaying your spring and summer blooms and foliage. Keep your deck in proper condition by preparing it for the winter. Things you can do include:

Begin by clearing the deck. Remove the plants, the grill, the seating and anything else that’s on it. Autumn is the ideal time for this project, but it’s not too late if you missed that opportunity. Here in Alexandria, VA, we might still have some pleasant and warm days before the cold is consistent with us. If you just do not have the time or inclination to clear the deck you can always call on the professionals.

Preventing Damage to Steps and Walkways from Freeze and Thaw

Here in our area, of Alexandria, VA we understand that rain, snow, and freezing temperatures are a guarantee in winter. Our steps and other outdoor areas often become victims of the freeze/thaw syndrome. This problem affects all of our outdoor hardscapes but is especially dangerous on the steps our children, and we use to enter and exit our home.