Winter is here, and with it comes some unique challenges regarding caring for your outdoor plants and yard. Thankfully, Alternative Environments is here to help with

• Make sure to mow to the correct height! You may be tempted to mow low so that you don’t have to cut your grass as often, but it’s important to set your mower height to over 1.5 inches during the winter. This length will help keep your grass insulted during the colder months.  
• Always avoid foot traffic when your grass is dormant or frosted. Dormant or frosted grass is much easier to weaken or damage. If you don’t have a clearly marked pathway to your front door for holiday guests, give us a call to discuss options for walkways and hardscaping. Your lawn will thank you!
• Choose the right plants. It’s important to know which plants need to be covered or brought inside when the outside temperature reaches freezing. If you don’t want to have to cover your flowers or bring them inside, make sure to choose flowers that can withstand winter weather.  

A thick, luxurious

Why Are Aeration and Overseeding Important?

• Aeration is so much more than just “poking holes” in your lawn! It removes cores or plugs of soil, thatch, and grass, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots more efficiently, and in turn, encouraging growth.
• Overseeding is a solution for damaged or thin lawns, adding seed to areas that have fallen victim to summer heat, pests, or disease. Seeding over areas of established grass helps to fill in the gaps and create a thicker, more robust lawn that is better able to fend off these hazards.

Why Combine Aeration and Overseeding?

Mow Your Lawn Correctly

It’s tempting to mow your lawn as short as possible so you don’t have to do this chore weekly. However, grass that has been cut too short is at the mercy of the elements. The scorching heat may brown your green grass and burn any existing water. When you mow, make sure to put the blades to the highest length.

Distribute Your Grass Clippings

Many lawn mowers spit the grass clippings onto the lawn that was just cut. Instead of bagging these clippings, re-distribute them evenly across the lawn. These clippings not only provide shade for your freshly-cut lawn, but they also add nutrients to the soil below.

Water Your Lawn

Grass thrives when it has enough water. If you’re not watering your lawn already, make sure to start. It needs roughly one inch of water on a weekly basis to grow properly. When you water your grass, do so in the early morning hours before the scorching sun is high in the sky.

Remove Weeds Quickly

Weeds and thatch are soil’s worst enemy. When weeds take root, they infiltrate the soil and choke out good plants and wanted grass. When you remove weeds before they spread, you are enabling your grass to have the room it needs to grow and thrive.

If you’re searching for lawn, tree, and shrub care, Alternative Environments is the company for you. We can help make your existing lawn into a thriving, healthy lawn that you’ll never want to leave. Contact us today with your questions.