Winter preparation for your lawn: Essential tips for European garden owners

Snow mould is a fungal disease that can affect lawns under a blanket of snow. It is caused by an excessively thick layer of felt – a layer of dead grass that retains moisture and favours the growth of fungi. To reduce the risk:

Steps:

• Scarify: Remove excess lawn thatch with a scarifier or rake. While manual raking is sufficient for smaller lawns, a scarifier is ideal for larger areas.
  Aerate: Aerating the soil by removing small plugs of soil promotes aeration and water drainage. This ensures optimum nutrient absorption and prevents soil compaction.

‘Aerating the lawn is particularly important in autumn to prepare the soil for the winter months,’ explains Roman Mühleck, lawn care expert at AS-Motor

Yes, a balanced pH value is crucial for the health of the lawn. In Europe, the pH value varies greatly depending on the region, and an unbalanced value can weaken the grass in winter.

How to adjust the pH:

• Use a soil test kit to measure the pH in different areas of your garden.
• For soils that are too acidic, a small amount of lime can help. For soils that are too alkaline, organic material such as compost or peat can be added.

Yes, autumn is the best time to control weeds. As weeds prepare for winter, they channel their nutrients into the roots, making herbicides more effective.

Weed control steps:

• Use a selective herbicide or natural vinegar spray to target weeds.
• Continue to mow regularly to control weed growth. AS motorised mowers, such as the high grass mowers, are ideal for tackling larger weed areas and removing weed seeds.

Fallen leaves may look beautiful, but they can smother the lawn, block light and trap moisture, which promotes disease.

Leaf removal options:

• Mulching: Use mulching blades on your AS engine mower to shred the leaves into small pieces. These will decompose and provide nutrients to the soil naturally.
• Collecting: For a clean lawn, you can also collect and remove the leaves. AS-Motor offers robust equipment that collects leaves efficiently and keeps them tidy.

Fertilising before winter strengthens the lawn and prepares it for spring. However, it is important to choose the right fertiliser for the type of grass and soil conditions.

Fertiliser tips:

• Apply a slow-release fertiliser in late autumn.
• Grasses such as fescue and ryegrass respond best to nitrogen-rich fertilisers. For organic options, bone meal or compost are suitable.

Yes, the grass is more sensitive when dormant. Heavy loads can compact the soil and damage the blades of grass.

Tips for protecting the lawn:

• Try to walk on the lawn as little as possible in winter, especially in frosty conditions.
• Keep paths free of snow and ice with an AS motorised device, such as a snow blower, so that you don’t have to walk over the lawn.

Dead plant remains can attract pests and diseases, so it is important to remove them. Mulching perennials, on the other hand, protects them from the winter cold.

Preparation for annuals and perennials:

• Pull out dead annuals with roots to prevent pest infestations.
• Cut back dormant perennials and cover them with a layer of mulch to protect the roots from low temperatures.

Autumn is one of the best times to reseed cool-season grasses. This fills in thin patches and ensures a dense, green lawn in spring.

Re-seeding tips:

• Spread grass seed over bare patches and rake it in lightly.
• Water the areas thoroughly to encourage germination. The robust high grass mowers from AS-Motor make this work easier on a wide variety of surfaces.

Objects such as furniture or toys can cause bare patches and compact the soil. Removing these objects reduces the damage and promotes healthy regrowth.

Storage tips:

• Move items into the garden shed or garage to protect the lawn.
• If storage space is tight, rotate items occasionally to avoid damage to a particular spot.