The UK recently saw a bit of snowy weather which, while very lovely to look at and a lot of fun to play around in, can certainly prove problematic for our garden lawns if we’re not careful… and with more snow now being forecast, there’s no time like the present to make sure that your outdoor spaces are fully prepped and ready for winter to set in.
The good news is that you are unlikely to experience any long-term problems with your lawn if there is snowfall, as long as you aerate the grass regularly during spring and summer to improve drainage and help ensure that the lawn isn’t overly wet for too long.
Also do your best to avoid treading over frosty or snow-covered grass, as you can bruise the lawn and this can make it more vulnerable to diseases.
Something to be particularly aware of, however, is snow mould, a type of fungus that can attack the grass as the snow starts to melt. Look out for small patches of yellow grass once the snow has gone, as this is an indication that you’ve got a potential problem on your hands.
Also known as turf disease, snow mould can be prevented by giving the lawn a good mow before the first snow is forecast, with a preventative fungicide applied early on in winter to help protect the grass.
Try to avoid fertilising the lawn in late autumn as this can stimulate mould growth if you’re not careful and make sure that you clear up any leaves as they fall, as well as not leaving big patches of snow on the ground.
Another way around the problem is to place species of grass that are resistant to snow mould, such as red fescue, creeping brentgrass and perennial ryegrass, the latter of which is especially durable and often used on golf courses as a result.