Top Winter Lawncare Mistakes Everyone Makes

In the winter, no matter where you live, there a few things that we all want to do to our lawn to make them look their best come Spring but in most cases the things we are most tempted to do are either wrong or not quite going to do what we think they may do.
In this video I go over six of the most common mistakes people make in the lawn during the time between Christmas and the end of February while offering a few solutions to some of the issues we want to address.
► In the video I talk about soil temperatures a lot. In my yard I use a long stemmed compost thermometer to take my soil temps. You can see the one I use through this Amazon associates link: www.amazon.com...
I'm not sure if it's the best product in the market but it's the one I use.
Here are a few videos on the channel that are closely related to this one and may be great "next videos" for you to watch.
► When To Spray Dandelions: • When is the Best Time ...
► Can The Lawn Stay Green Over Winter: • How To Keep A Lawn Gre...
► Will Iron Green Up A Lawn In February: Link Coming Soon
► Why Potassium Is Good For The Lawn: • What Does Potassium Do...
► Repair Your Lawn For Next To No Money: • Zero Cost Lawn Repair:...
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[@TurfMechanic]

►►► Want to fix your lawn for the long haul but don't know where to start? I can help! Click here right now and get started today: turfmech.link/dont-know-where-to-start ◄◄◄

[@LawnJourneys]

74 days till spring. I'm chomping to get back out but can't do anything other than plan at the moment. Happy New Year!

[@TurfMechanic]

Yeah, Spring will arrive before you know it and I got a feeling it's going to be a short winter for most of the country too. We haven't dipped under 12 degrees yet which almost never happens. I've got a ton of products and tools on my wish list plus a few soil tests to get done this month; all planning for Spring and summer; no grass cutting but it's all still fun for me! :D Thanks for stopping by LJ

[@4x4meetsandshows]

Wow might have to watch this a couple times , packed with information

[@TurfMechanic]

So glad to hear that! Thanks for the feedback and happy new year to you too!

[@joehuff1110]

Absolutely a Great presentation. You elaborated and articulated to perfection. I applaud you sir. Thank you for attaching this link.

[@TurfMechanic]

I appreciate that comment a lot Joe! Glad you found it worthwhile!

[@azimmey]

Glad I watched

[@TurfMechanic]

So glad to hear that azimmey! Thanks for letting me know :D

[@randyole9548]

Should I go out and cut new grass low (cut to 3" now 1 week before Thanksgiving) the renovation was completed Sept.28 in Wisconsin. I see 3" and up to 5" in various parts of lawn that fold over. My big mistake was not putting a fertilizer down when the lawn was planted Sept. There are a lot of areas of thin short seedlings (probably lots of short kbg) that will probably die this winter. I could not plant earlier because it was a contractor job to fix drainage. It has those fishing line straw mats over the whole lawn. There were two 3" cuts done. Most night temps are in the 20s. You do a great job of explaining "All things grass related". Those straw fishing line mats are a problem for dormant seeding.

[@TurfMechanic]

If it was me I'd cut it down a bit, I'm not a fan of keeping the baby grass long hoping for the thin spots to catch up. Make sure your mower blade is as sharp as you can get it though to inflict the least amount of damage on the baby grass as possible.. Right now you have very little light so a shorter blade is less likely to fold over with weight of dew and frost. I'd let frost melt off in the morning then blow the area somewhat dry with a light setting on a blower then hit the grass with a mower on bagging setting mid afternoon at the warmest part of the day- because the clippings won't mulch into the soil quickly in cold weather is why I'd bag, if left on the ground they may just sit there for a long time and could act like a mulch suffocating the ground underneath. If covering seedlings with a frost blanket is possible then I'd do that too at least for the next couple weeks before polar weather comes in to your area. As for fert, probably will just have to wait till March April and see what comes up, id heavily recommend CytoGro at that time for root growth stimulus and an application of any alfalfa meal based fertilizer for naturally occurring triacontinol (another root growth stimulant). Paired up with something like an early app of milo (for the P) this should juice rooting for whatever makes it through the winter and then you can just be strategic on what parts of the lawn need reseeding. Good luck! And make sure to update on how things go!

[@wilvertperez]

Mister TurfMechanic great video again thanks for sharing your time with all of us. Is funny because yesterday I when to look at deck to repair and I saw people raking leaves. So if they see you video they will know that they doing the right thing. I’m going to share you video because I always recommend to cut the grass in the fall. Thanks again I wish you and all the viewers a happy new year

[@americanpatriot4080]

Great info on caring for lawns.

[@TurfMechanic]

Thanks a lot, glad you liked it!

[@williamlumpkin8137]

Thank you Brian...

[@TurfMechanic]

Not a problem William, glad you found it worth your time and thanks for watching 👍

[@vazz22]

Have a Blessed 2021 😇 🙏🏼 🇺🇸 🌎 👍🏼

[@TurfMechanic]

Thanks Vazz, you you!

[@raymondmcdonald7085]

Thank you for this video! I was making all 6 mistakes! This spring ( thanks to you) things are going to look awesome!

[@lamcarter]

The pre emergent tip has not been my experience. I have been adding PE on the snow for years. I never get the early spring weeds…NEVER. My neighbors are always asking, “Why don’t you get dandelions?” While it might be degrading, I find that I still have a significant barrier of protection. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@jaammuay4323]

Thanks for the very informative video. My grass is still green and it is 3" tall. Should I have it cut to 2" or lower. I am in Norfolk VA area.

[@TurfMechanic]

Thanks! I would have cut mine closer to 2" by now but I wouldn't tell you you need to. Tall fescue for instance doesn't go that low easily unless it's been trained to be lower for a while. If you've got other grass types then 2" should be easier to hit for winter but its not nessesary just ideal for a variety of reasons.

[@joehuff1110]

Question... if you have time. No one speaks of when they should stop striping lawns. I would consider this accurate with your "trampled" areas. Meaning same effect? Correct?

[@TurfMechanic]

Good question, not one I've considered making a vid on either. I don't personally stripe my lawn but if I did I would stop doing it when the grass stops wanting to stand up on its own. When grass loses energy in its leaves in favor of its roots as dormancy starts the vibrancy in the foliar canopy starts waning and a striping kit would make it even harder for grass to stand up. For most cool season lawns grass slows down so much in November as overnight temps drop into the 30s and 20s overnight and sunlight levels get so slim that any weight on the grass is a lot. I'm sure a lot will depend on the grass type and climate though, for instance PR in North Carolina probably has a better chance at late season striping then fescue in Wisconsin. This is also a factor in why cutting lower going into winter is important, less grass to lay down on its side results in fewer spring problems to repair.

[@joehuff1110]

This is why I follow you sir. And I am subscribed! You're straight to the facts. I myself don't have time for the charades and gimmicks and you're fully original and sincere.

[@danielleroyal2911]

So it's the end of Jan & my area of upstate NY has had a very mild winter...we had 1 heavy snowfall with a week of single digit temps and then a very fast thaw with about 4 days in the 40s & upper 30s -- the coming 5days is forcasted to be mid/upper 30s with a mix of rain/snow for 3 of those 5 days... and 2 days of 0% precipitation in the middle. ~ Then day 6 the temp is expected to drop into the teens. **Could I apply the winterizer I wasn't able to get to this past fall? -Would it be beneficial, harmful, or a waste of my time & product?? >>♡Thank you for your insights!!

[@douglasmark9740]

Curious to know…How much damage is done if you have a snowball fight with your kids when there’s say 6-12 inches of snow on the ground/grass? I had a couple last winter and didn’t see any noticeable effects.

[@TurfMechanic]

Lol, I think what you did is the reason to have a lawn in the winter! Snowball fight with the kids should be done every time IMO, as often as possible 😁 I keep a lawn to spend time in it with the family, that's always my preference 👌

[@dannymcneal]

@@TurfMechanic - That is the absolute most perfect answer. The purpose of the lawn is not the existence of the lawn itself, it’s to help enjoy the important things in life. Stop and smell the roses. Thanks for expressing that truth!

[@Gibbowr80]

Hello I live in Florida in central Florida. Trugreen is scheduled to come out to spray pre-emergent on my grass. The grass is dormant because it has been cold for the past few days. Should I allow them to spray the pre-emergent?

[@TurfMechanic]

I think you'll be fine - your weather patterns are in the minority as your soil temps don't drop like everywhere else. I just moved to SoCal, so I'm similar. I'll be applying pe in the next week or two as well this year but most everywhere else other than lower TX and hottest ateas of southwest late Jan is too early.

[@Gibbowr80]

@@TurfMechanic thank you🙏🏽

[@paulbaratta1566]

Stupid delivery guys cut over my front lawn and it drives me crazy!

[@TurfMechanic]

Not a fun thing to watch...at the same time those guys are so busy this month. Maybe put up those steaks and caution tape around the yard you want to protect 🤔

[@bassatait1549]

Where do you live man?

[@TurfMechanic]

This video was made a few years back in Klamath Falls, OR, last year I moved to Camarillo CA. Very different climates.

[@dadwichert]

What can you do to ur lawn, in the Winter ? 🤔

[@TurfMechanic]

Core aeration at end of winter is an awesome idea! Watering a little bit on the warm days in winter is also an acceptable option.

[@kenanderson1240]

You have great technical content; but you talk non-stop. It's difficult to understand all your points for lawn care. Get to the point! Also, your comments about your audience's abilities to understand you, are really not necessary. Great to watch your kids. Take care.

[@TurfMechanic]

That's all good feedback Ken! Thanks for taking the time to leave it, I can assure you I'll take it all to heart and keep those points in mind in the future. 👊