Don’t Let Winter Wreck Your Lawn
Winter might seem like a season of rest for your grass—but it’s also when damage quietly builds up beneath the snow. Between plows, pets, and people, your lawn can take a beating from snow mold, salt exposure, and compaction.
Luckily, with a few smart, natural steps in fall and early spring, you can prevent long-term damage and give your lawn a head start for the growing season.
1. Snow Mold: The Hidden Lawn Killer
When snow sits on unfrozen ground for long periods, it creates the perfect damp environment for snow mold, a fungal disease that causes matted, gray or pink patches in spring.
How to Prevent It
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Keep grass short before winter. Mow your final cut around 2 inches high before the first snowfall.
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Clear leaves before the snow falls. Matted leaves hold moisture that promotes fungal growth.
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Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer late in fall. Too much nitrogen spurs late growth that’s more prone to mold. Instead, apply a balanced winterizer like Lawnbright Cold Snap Winterizer to strengthen roots naturally.
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Rake and dry early in spring. Once the snow melts, gently rake the matted areas to improve airflow and help the lawn recover.
2. Salt Damage: Protect Against De-Icers
De-icing salts and ice melts can harm grass by dehydrating blades and altering soil chemistry. You’ll often notice brown, crispy patches along sidewalks, driveways, and roads in spring.
How to Prevent It
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Create a barrier. Before winter, apply a layer of compost or mulch along lawn edges near driveways and walkways to buffer against salt runoff.
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Switch to safer products. Choose calcium chloride or magnesium chloride ice melts instead of rock salt—they’re gentler on lawns and pets.
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Rinse salt away in spring. Once the weather warms, flush salt-affected areas with water to help leach salts from the soil.
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Recondition damaged soil. If grass looks stressed, apply Lawnbright Aeroflow Liquid Aerator to loosen soil and improve drainage naturally.
3. Snow Piles & Plow Damage
When snow is repeatedly shoveled or plowed into one area of the lawn, it compresses the grass and creates extended shade and moisture—leading to bare spots and mold.
How to Prevent It
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Spread snow out evenly. Shovel or blow snow in multiple directions instead of piling it up in one area.
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Mark the edges. Use lawn stakes or markers to define driveway and walkway edges so plows and snowblowers don’t tear up grass.
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Avoid piling salted snow. Try not to push salted snow onto grassy areas—direct it toward hard surfaces instead.
4. Foot Traffic: Stay Off Dormant Grass
Frozen grass blades are brittle and can easily snap under pressure, damaging the crown of the plant and leading to bare spots when spring comes.
How to Prevent It
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Limit foot traffic. Stick to walkways and paths whenever possible.
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Create winter walkways. If you have a commonly used shortcut (like to the mailbox or trash bins), lay down stepping stones or mulch to protect the lawn underneath.
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Keep pets off when frozen. Pet play areas should be shifted to a mulched or hard-surface space when the lawn is frozen.
5. Help Your Lawn Bounce Back in Spring
Once the snow melts, take a few simple steps to help your lawn recover naturally:
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Rake lightly to lift matted areas and remove debris.
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Apply a pre-emergent as soon as soil temperatures reach 50°F to prevent weeds later in the year.
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Spot-treat problem areas with Lawnbright Organic Crabgrass Control to prevent weeds from taking over thin patches.
FAQs
Q: What does snow mold look like?
You’ll see circular patches of matted grass with grayish or pink fuzz on top when snow melts.
Q: Will my lawn recover from salt damage?
Yes, with time and water. Rinsing and reconditioning the soil with a liquid aerator helps speed recovery.
Q: Can I reseed in spring if my lawn has damage?
Yes, once soil temps reach 50°F. Avoid using pre-emergent weed control at the same time as seeding—these prevent grass seed from germinating too.