Spring is Here, Time to Fix Winter Damage

With the Winnipeg winter coming to an end, it’s time to start thinking about how to best bring back a healthy and happy lawn for the summer. The harsh winter freeze, thaw cycles, vole damage and snow mold wreak havoc on the spring growing period and preventative maintenance can play a large part in mitigating the damage and restoring lush growth.

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Snow Mold is a type of fungus and turf disease that damages or kills grass after snow melts occurring in late winter. The damage is typically concentrated in circles three to twelve inches in diameter with a grey or pink colouring. However, it is quite common for yards to have many overlapping circles to the point of being difficult to assess where one circles ends and the next begins. While all grasses can be impacted by snow mold, Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue lawns are the most resistant to damage and onset.

Vole Damage is the result of feeding on turf areas, chewing grass down to the crown of the root at surface level. Damage is compounded by continued vole traffic on the exposed areas as well as the accumulation of excrement, especially if left in place. The results are rarely noticed until thaw in late April when the trails are exposed.

Dethatching is the starting point to quickly rebound your lawn areas from either form of damage. Dethatching allows for the removal of debris and excrement left behind by voles and increase air flow to help terminate mold growth.

Lawn Aeration is an extremely useful tool in alleviating winter mold and creating a stronger root system by allowing oxygen better access into the soil. As well as quickly drying out and eliminating winter mold, aeration is also terrific for the overall health of your lawn as it reduces the stress of overly compacted soil, increases the flow of nutrients and water to the turf roots and encourages better resistance to heat and drought during summer months.

Over Seeding after vole or winter mold damage is the application of a mixture of custom blended grass seeds to promote quicker recovery and fuller, thicker lawns. Best used in conjunction with aeration, over seeding in the spring is useful to fill in patchy or damaged areas of turf at an economical budget.

Top Dressing is the process of applying a thin, ¼” to ½” of natural compost blended with a custom mix of grass seed quickly to permanently restore bare, damaged or struggling areas of lawn to a lush and green manner. When done immediately following aeration, top dressing will quickly turn around any mold or vole damage and lead to strong, full and lush lawn.

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Want your lawn looking great this season, please feel free to contact the Kindret Landscaping Inc. at 204.487.2107.