As the weather cools down and rainfall increases, your lawn can start to lose some of its lustre.

All lawn types will enter some degree of dormancy over winter, meaning that growth will slow down and colour will begin to fade.

Because of this, your lawn will need a little bit of extra “TLC” over winter to keep it looking green and healthy.

The best time to do the groundwork is in the lead-up to winter. That way, by the time winter does arrive, your lawn will have the proper foundation it needs to stay green all season long. However, there are still things you can do during winter to kickstart this growth.

1. Understand your lawn type

Did you know not all grass is the same?

Every lawn variety has its own unique characteristics and growth habits. Warm-season grasses, while drought tolerant, can be more susceptible to winter colour loss and will need an extra boost to keep it healthy over the cooler months. Whereas, cool-season grasses tend to do well in cooler climates and will often stay green throughout winter.  Look for the best turf varieties at instant lawn Melbourne.

Find out your turf type and discover what your lawn needs to thrive over winter.

Once you know your turf type, you can cater your lawn care to suit and give it a better chance of staying lush and healthy all year round.

2. Aerate soil

Soil can become waterlogged and dense over winter. This is commonly known as soil compaction, and can stop your lawn from getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy over winter.

To prevent compaction in your soil, it’s a good idea to aerate your lawn.

Use a garden fork or a lawn aerator (you can hire these from most garden supply centres) to break up the soil and alleviate soil compaction.

The best time to aerate your lawn is in late spring. This goes for both warm and cool-season grasses. That way, your lawn can better ingest fertiliser, air and water prior to the heavy frosts of winter, giving it the nutrients it needs to survive the harsh conditions.

3. Fertilise your lawn

There are benefits of fertilising your lawn in winter. Using winter-specific fertilisers, you can:

• Improve lawn colour: There are some liquid fertilisers on the market that can help to keep your lawn green over winter. These are low-nitrogen fertilisers with the primary benefit of being a colour pigment. Simply spray over your lawn for an instant colour boost.

• Support healthy growth: Fertilisers high in nitrogen will help top growth and keep your lawn looking green over winter.
  

While you can fertilise your lawn over winter, the best time to fertilise your lawn for healthy winter growth is in late autumn, before the heavy frosts and snow arrives.

4. Remove weeds

Weeds will flourish in winter grass if you don’t watch out! Get your garden rake or a weed killer suited to your lawn type and zap any weeds to avoid your grass being killed.

If you don’t get rid of weeds, your grass will be deprived of nutrients and can wither and die.

Common winter weeds include winter grass, bindii & broadleaf weeds and creeping oxalis. Get to understand these weed types to properly identify them in your lawn.

5. Raise your mowing height

Mowing higher in winter will help to prolong your lawn’s colour and give your grass deeper roots for healthy growth.

A good rule of thumb is to mow your grass at about two thirds of your cutting height.

Over winter, you won’t have to mow much - if at all. With reduced mowing, winter is a great time to get your lawn mower serviced and to sharpen your blades. By keeping mower blades sharp, you will avoid ripping or tearing your grass when mowing.

6. Keep off the lawn!

Lastly, one of the most important tips to keeping your lawn green over winter is to avoid walking on it!

Staying off the grass will give your lawn a better chance to grow over winter. During dormancy, it’s more susceptible to damage and may be slow to self-repair. So try to keep your lawn out of bounds - especially when it has been wet.

Having a beautiful, green lawn in winter isn’t impossible! While some lawn types do better than others over the winter season, all lawns will benefit from regular care and maintenance. Autumn is the best time to prep your lawn for the cold months ahead. However, you can still mow and fertilise your lawn in winter for an added boost to help kickstart growth and maintain colour. Keep an eye out for any weeds, and rake away fallen leaves or debris to help let sunlight into your soil. Maintaining your lawn this way will ensure green growth over winter and all year long.