How to revive your lawn after winter and avoid long-lasting damage: experts
According to experts, winter weather can cause long-lasting damage to your front lawn – the key to a healthy revival lies in a few simple maintenance practices.
The first step is to clear the debris left by the winter conditions.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“You want to clear debris before grass starts growing in the spring,” Paul Hope of Consumer Reports told CTV News Toronto. “If you have a dense bed of leaves anywhere on your lawn it’s actually going to block out the sunlight and keep the grass from growing properly.”
According to Sara Stricker, researcher with the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, the best thing you can do for your lawn is to overseed. You can use whatever seed is best suited for your lawn.
Hand-weeding and proper fertilization will also help, she said.
No Mow May? Maybe not: expert
While a movement called “No Mow May” has grown in popularity over recent years, Stricker advises against cutting off more than one third of any plant’s length at one time as it can cause stress and damage. The idea was born of a desire to promote flower growth for pollinators, but there are alternative methods that can achieve similar results, she said.
"We’re just saying, consider getting a flower pot,” Stricker said. “Your lawn grows best when it's cut regularly, based on its growth rate.”
Consumer Reports said you may want to raise the mower deck higher to let your grass grow longer as taller grass has deeper roots and you can also set your mower to mulch as the clippings provide nutrients to your lawn.
You should also clear the grass that's stuck under your mower deck and using a silicone spray on the deck can help keep clippings from sticking. If it's been a while since you’ve had your lawn mower blade sharpened it may be worth doing.
The most recent tests by Consumer Reports also found that battery-powered lawn mowers continue to get better each year. Many now have run times of over an hour and you also don't need to mess with oil and gas which is good for the environment and also your wallet.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America announced after 114 years that it will change its name and will become Scouting America in an effort to emphasize inclusion as it works to move past the turmoil of bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.