7 tips for looking after your lawn in winter

Once winter hits you’ll find that most granular fertilizers (fertilizers in the form of solid granules) won’t work because the ground and air temperature is too cold. The best solution is to apply some iron and seaweed (in liquid or granular form). This tonic for turf helps to reduce plant stress, and hardens grass to protect it throughout the colder months.

Try to rest the lawn as much as possible during winter by keeping off the grass, especially when it is wet or frosty. When it’s cold, the grass plants aren’t actively growing, so they won’t repair themselves until spring if they get damaged.

Only mow the lawn if it’s absolutely necessary, and don’t mow it at all if heavy frosts are expected or if the ground is very wet.

Use a light rake or brush to keep the lawn free of leaves and debris. You can hire lawn vacuums or sweepers from local garden centres or DIY stores, although it’s better to keep off with heavier machines in the winter.

You can help your lawn to be healthier by aerating it – making small holes in the grass to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the roots. You can aerate your lawn with a garden fork or spiking machine.

Worms improve the nutrient content of soil and help the soil structure get stronger. They’ll probably leave worm casts on top of your lawn – these look like mini mole hills, but they’re actually the waste soil that passes through worms as they move around. Just let them dry and sweep them up with a stiff brush.

Use the winter as an opportunity to service or replace your mower ready for spring. Make sure the blades are in good condition and stay sharp.