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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.
Some Practical Considerations
In this part of Virginia, heavy snowfalls often accompany the arrival of brisk winter temperatures. From a purely practical standpoint, it makes little sense to spend time outdoors mowing a frozen lawn; most residents instead concentrate upon clearing away snow and ice from cars, driveways, and walks. By waiting to bring out the lawnmower until after the arrival of warmer temperatures, you’ll help your grass plants obtain a necessary period of rest. Your lawn’s vigorous growth later during the year will alert you to the best time to resume regular mowing sessions.
Late winter and early spring provide a welcome opportunity for many households to perform two important lawn care tasks: removing winter weeds and maintaining lawn equipment. Both measures help ensure your lawn will enjoy care and attention during warmer months:
Removing Winter Weeds
If weather conditions permit, some residents of this area find it useful to employ time during the winter carefully observing the yard. For instance, in early spring, you may enjoy opportunities to detect and remove some winter weeds. Particularly if you prefer to perform weeding by hand, you’ll want to wait for the arrival of warm temperatures and thawed ground conditions to undertake this task.
Maintaining Lawn Equipment
Late winter or early spring also offers many opportunities to check over the condition of lawn mowers, tillers and other lawn and garden equipment. Many small motor repair services experience a surge in customer orders during late spring. You may wish to schedule routine servicing in advance, to ensure your equipment operates well when warmer temperatures arrive.
Lawn Care Services
Campbell Ferrara offers a variety of lawn and garden care services to help people in the Alexandria, Virginia area maintain beautiful yards and park-like grounds. Reach us easily online, or by calling 703-354-6724. We look forward to assisting you!
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