Amherst Town Money Saver | March FOM 2021

Techniques to revitalize A Lawn After A Winter

PRISTINE, SNOW-COVERED LANDSCAPES can be wonders to behold. While that blanket of white is idyllic, a lawn’s delicate blades may be paying a hefty price beneath the cold, heavy piles of snow.

Snow plows push salt and sand up on the grass while subterranean animals like mice and moles dig burrows beneath piles of snow as they try to nd food and stay warm. Such conditions are not favorable for thriving landscapes. When the spring thaw arrives, lawns may be in dire need of some TLC. e following techniques can mitigate winter-related lawn damage.

• Clear out debris. Remove any scattered leaves, branches and other debris that has been strewn across the property due to storms or snow-laden trees. is will give you a clean canvas to work on.

• Dry out snow mold. e Family Handyman says snow mold is a cold-season fungus that causes gray-colored circles or patches on the lawn where there has been snow. To alleviate snow mold, rake the lawn to loosen matted grass and facilitate the drying-out process.

• De-thatch the lawn. Heavy snow can compress the grass and cause some of it to die o . Dethatching helps remove dead grass blades and separate any matting. is enables water, nutrients and air to reach the lawn’s roots more e ectively. inning out old organic matter also helps encourage new growth.

• Aerate the soil. Coupled with dethatching, aeration involves loosening the soil or poking holes to allow nutrients to move freely to the roots.

• Kill weeds before they spread. Weeds may be the rst to start growing when the weather begins to warm. Address them promptly by manually pulling them or applying an herbicide.

• Overseed the lawn. Chances are there are some bare spots that have formed over the winter. Overseeding can help to ll in the lawn. Make sure that frosts are largely a thing of the past and soil temperature is around 50 F to 60 F before seeding. Water daily until grass lls in.

• Apply nutrients. Fertilizer and compost can restore nutrients to the lawn that may have been used up over winter. A soil test at a nearby horticultural center can tell you which nutrients are needed, according to the Chemistry Cachet, a guide to using chemistry secrets for healthy living, beauty, cleaning, and gardening.

Lawns can be restored to their pre-winter glory a er some sweat equity and about ve to six weeks of consistent sunshine and warm weather. •

SAFETY FIRST!

Power washing is a great way to give a home a fresh, clean look in spring. But there’s more to power than simply renting the right equipment and getting to work. e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that there are many risks associated with using power washers. For instance, the CDC says strong spray from power washers can cause serious wounds that initially seem minor. However, such wounds can lead to infection or disability if le untreated.

Power washers can be di cult for some people to control, so it’s imperative that homeowners honestly assess their physical abilities before renting a unit. e CDC urges homeowners who determine they can safely handle power washers to take these additional safety steps to make sure the process of cleaning their home exteriors goes smoothly.

• Never point a pressure washer at yourself or others.

• Do not attempt to push or move objects with spray from the washer. If anything is in your way, turn the power washer o and then move the obstruction.

any standing water, and use a heavy duty extension cord with components rated for use in wet locations. Keep both the power cord and extension cord connections as far away as possible from the item being washed and away from any water runo . While power washing, periodically take note of the location of the extension cord connections to ensure they are not in a puddle.

• Wear rubber-soled shoes that provide some insulation when using the pressure washer.

• Never allow children to operate a pressure washer. Keep children at a safe distance when an adult is using a pressure washer.

Power washing can give a home a whole new look a er a winter’s worth of dirt and grime builds up on the home’s exterior. Safety must remain the utmost priority when operating a power washer on your own. ✴

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