Winterizing Your Lawn and Garden: Fertilizer, Aeration, Cleanup, and Mulch

Lawn Care

• Winter fertilizer: High potassium for root growth (not high nitrogen for top growth). Timing varies by region; consult local nursery.
• Final mow, weed, rake: Clear debris before snow. Leaves → compost or flower bed mulch.
• Overseed patchy areas and mulch.
• Aerate: Rent commercial core aerator for large lawns. DIY: board with 3" screws on ropes (or sandal aerators).

Garden Care

• Clear annual beds completely: Remove plants, roots, debris. Bag/burn diseased material.
• Prune only broken branches now; wait for dormancy for major pruning.
• Protect perennials: Mound soil 1 ft around base. Wrap larger shrubs/small trees in burlap.
• Guard young trees from rodents/deer with hardware cloth.
• Turn vegetable beds, incorporate compost, rake smooth. Add lime if needed.
• Soil test now for spring amendments.
• Mulch all open beds (pine needles, chopped leaves, straw, compost). Conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, looks tidy. Dig in come spring.

Rest and Plan

With the land tucked in, spend winter dreaming of next year's bigger harvest, greener lawn, and more beautiful flowers.