Winterizing Your Lawn What you need: Lawn mower Rake Nitrogen based fertilizer Fall is your lawn's favorite time of the year. Take care of it properly during this time to ensure that your lawn looks its best next spring and summer. Start by raking up any leaves and other debris. Fallen leaves can smother your lawn as they become wet and decompose. Removing leaves from your lawn will also help prevent disease problems come spring. If there are any bare spots in your lawn, re-seed now. Fertilizing your lawn before the onset of winter is very important. Nitrogen promotes healthy root growth and allows your lawn to store food for the winter. Fertilize your lawn twice during the fall. Around Labor Day, apply 3/4 of a pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Fertilize again after the last time you mow with the same amount of nitrogen. This second feeding is usually done around mid-November in most parts of the U.S. Once the grass has stopped growing for the year, give it one last mowing ... to about an inch high. Keep the grass short to prevent it from matting down as winter approaches. If you have excessive thatch buildup in your lawn, it's a good idea to remove it now as well. Following these easy steps will guarantee you have a beautiful lawn next year.

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