Perfect time to make your lawn healthier for next spring

As winter approaches, you've probably scratched lawn care off your to-do list. But your lawn will be greener and healthier next year if you work on it now and leave it alone next spring.

Thicken up your lawn

It's a perfect time to thicken up your lawn by adding some grass seed. After all, if you don't fill in bare patches with more grass plants, Mother Nature will and we know that she won't use Kentucky blue grass. A thick lawn is the best way to out compete weeds.

The best time of the year to overseed your lawn is right now, because the soil is warm, which speeds up germination time for the seeds. Look for grass seed mixtures that are mostly perennial ryegrasses and fine fescues. These grasses are drought tolerant, germinate quickly and contain endophytes in their root systems that will repel common lawn insects such as chinch bugs and soil webworms. For an average sized lawn of 1,000 square feet, you will need 2-3 kilograms (4-6 lbs.) of grass seed. And don't worry if the temperature drops. Young grass plants will survive the winter and you'll be rewarded with a thick lawn next spring.

Feed your lawn

Fall is the best time of the year to feed your lawn because the roots of your lawn are searching for nutrients to store

over the winter. Feeding your lawn now will help it to green up faster in the spring. And, instead of putting down a chemical fertilizer, try a light layer of compost. Compost provides nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the major nutrients needed by your lawn, as well as important micronutrients such as copper, iron and zinc. As well, compost will improve the quality of your soil and add beneficial worms and microorganisms.

If you do use fertilizer, look for an organic product that provides a balanced amount of the three major nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Avoid products that contain a lot of nitrogen because this will result in excessive top growth at the expense of root development. A weak root system increases the risk of damage from grubs and chinch bugs. Fertilizers that are high in nitrogen also results in too much stem growth that contributes to thatch development A strong root system, on the other hand, will help your lawn to survive the heat and drought typical of an Ontario summer.

The damage caused by synthetic fertilizers doesn't stop at your lawn.

Your lawn cannot use all of the nutrients provided by chemical fertilizers. The extra nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, will end up in rivers, streams and lakes and contribute to algae blooms. This, in turn, removes oxygen from the water, which kills fish and other types of aquatic life.

This article was made possible by the generous support of the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network & Fund. For more information, visit www.pesticidefree.ca.