Local Expert Shares Fall Lawn Care Tips

(KNSI) – As temperatures drop and frost appears on windshields across central Minnesota, local lawn care experts say now is the time to prepare the yard for winter.

Co-owner of Woods Farmer Seed and Nursery, Morgan Franzwa, explained to KNSI News that the most critical task to do right now is to clean up the leaves. “If you get the leaves on your lawn, and then it starts getting really cold and snows, that just helps more with that snow mold and just creating that moisture on the lawn. And that’s where just a lot of that lawn can die off over wintertime.”

Franzwa recommends focusing on winter fertilizer rather than standard fall treatments at this point in the season. The winterizer should be applied once the ground is frozen, typically in early to mid-November, and will promote top growth next spring.

For those considering other lawn treatments, aerating and dethatching can still be done in the coming weeks, as long as the ground remains soft and lawns can dry out sufficiently. However, Franzwa says time is running short.

Those looking to address bare spots in their yards can still plant grass seed through a process called dormant seeding. The seed is laid down now, covered with straw to protect it from birds, and allowed to sit through winter before growing in spring.

Beyond lawn care, Franzwa says we can always dream about warmer weather, as now is also prime time for planting garlic and fall bulbs that will bloom next spring.

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