How to Prepare Your Lawn for Winter: Essential Lawn Care Tips Before the Freeze
As temperatures drop and your lawn starts to slow down, it’s easy to think your yard work is done for the year. But preparing your lawn for winter is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure it comes back strong, green, and healthy in the spring. A few key steps in late fall can make all the difference between a lush comeback and a patchy start next season.
Here’s how to get your lawn ready for winter.
1. Keep Mowing (But Lower the Height at the End)
Continue mowing your lawn until it stops actively growing. For most regions, this means mowing into late fall. Gradually lower your mower’s cutting height during the last couple of cuts — but don’t go too short. A shorter cut before winter helps prevent snow mold and reduces the risk of matting under heavy snow, while still protecting grass roots from cold stress.
2. Clear Leaves and Debris
Before snow sets in, make sure your lawn is clear of leaves, sticks, and debris. A thick layer of leaves can trap moisture, block sunlight, and suffocate your grass. Rake or mulch leaves with your mower — finely mulched leaves actually break down into organic matter that can help feed your soil through winter. Learn more about how to manage leaves on your lawn.
3. Apply a Fall or Winterizer Fertilizer
Feeding your lawn before winter is crucial. Use a slow-release fertilizer winterizer fertilizer like Fall Lawn Food 24-0-14 when growth slows but the ground hasn’t frozen — typically late October to mid-November, depending on your region.
4. Aerate and Overseed (If Needed)
If your soil feels compacted or your lawn struggles with thin patches, early fall is a great time to aerate and overseed. Core aeration allows water, air, and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil, strengthening root systems before winter dormancy. If you haven’t done this yet and your ground hasn’t frozen, it’s not too late — especially in milder climates.
5. Keep Watering (Until It’s Time to Stop)
Don’t shut off your irrigation system too soon. Grass roots continue absorbing water even as top growth slows down. Keep watering your lawn until the ground starts to freeze or consistent cold weather arrives. Before winter, remember to drain and winterize your sprinkler lines to avoid freeze damage (burst pipes in spring are never fun).
6. Stay Off the Grass During Dormancy
Once your lawn goes dormant and snow covers the ground, minimize traffic as much as possible. Walking on frozen turf can cause the blades to break and lead to bare spots when spring arrives.
7. Winterize Your Equipment
Properly storing your products, draining hoses, prepping your mower, and cleaning your spreader will make a big difference when it’s time to fire everything back up in spring.
Preparing your lawn for winter sets the stage for success next year. A little effort now — from cleaning up leaves to feeding with a winterizer fertilizer — helps your lawn store the nutrients it needs to wake up healthy, green, and ready to grow.
