October brings cooler weather, which means it is time to winterize your grass. Proper winterization involves three key steps: fertilizing, spreading a pre-emergent, and top dressing your turfgrass. These steps will benefit your lawn throughout the winter months and prepare it for lush growth in the spring.

Choosing the Right Fertilizer to Winterize Grass

First, when choosing your fertilizer, make sure to select an organic option that promotes soil and plant health. We recommend MicroLife Brown Patch 5-1-3 for winterizing your lawn. MicroLife Brown Patch is specially formulated to prepare your lawn for the winter months. Its balanced nutrient profile, with an emphasis on soil health, helps to strengthen the root system and provides disease resistance. Additionally, being an organic fertilizer, it enriches the soil with beneficial microbes and improves overall soil health, ensuring your lawn stays vibrant and resilient through the winter and into the spring.

Applying Pre-Emergent Herbicide

Next, spread your pre-emergent herbicide. This will target broadleaf weed seeds, preventing them from germinating once the air and soil temperatures drop to the desired range. Effective weed control is a vital part of winterizing your grass, ensuring a weed-free lawn in the spring. For the best results, we recommend using Barricade Pre Emergent Herbicide.

Top Dressing Your Turfgrass

The final step is to apply a ¼” to ½” layer of compost or a compost-enriched soil to your turf. This top dressing will give the soil a boost of organic matter, improving the moisture-holding capacity of the soil, adding nutrients, and feeding soil microbes. These microbes are key to the complex process that makes food available to grass plants. A healthy microbe population encourages a dense, green lawn.

For the best results, we recommend using Casco Organics Manure Compost. Casco Organics Manure Compost helps improve soil structure and provides essential nutrients.

By following these steps, you can effectively winterize your grass and ensure a healthy, vibrant lawn in the spring. Proper winterization involves choosing the right fertilizer, applying a pre-emergent herbicide, and top dressing with compost. These actions will strengthen your grass, prevent weeds, and enhance soil health.