Tips to Strengthen Your Lawn for Winter

Winter Lawn

The winter can be a welcome period of rest from all the necessary tasks that go with maintaining your lawn in top condition. But if you fail to prepare for the colder months, spring may greet you not with a carpet of lush, green grass, but with unappealing bare patches.

These simple steps will help you get your lawn winter-ready.

Clearing

Anything left resting on grass for a prolonged period, can leave a dead or worn area beneath it. Although the grass may regrow in spring, it is likely to be sparser and shorter than elsewhere, giving an unattractive patchy look to the lawn as a whole.

So, the first task is to ensure that your lawn is clear of all objects, both natural and man-made, including logs, lawn furniture, items of sports equipment and, as far as possible, fallen leaves.

Occasional clearing can also be carried out if necessary during the winter months themselves, but ideally the lawn should be left as undisturbed as possible during this period.

Aerating

Once its surface is clear, aerating the lawn is vital to break up compacted soil and allow water and nutrients to reach the plant roots.

Seeding, Fertilizing and Weed-killing

If your lawn is composed of a cool season grass variety, such as bluegrass or rye, fall is the ideal time of year for over-seeding or re-seeding, but this should take place no later than 6-7 weeks before the expected first freeze.

Once aerated, the lawn should be prepared for re-seeding and over-seeding by fertilizing, a vital process to replace soil nutrients lost during the heat and heavy use of summer.

You can spread a natural compost, if you have it, or use a commercial product , paying particular attention to bare or thinly covered patches.

Make sure newly seeded areas receive ample water, and once new growth is established, use a proprietary product from a specialist supplier to get rid of weeds, fungi and disease-causing pests.

Mowing

It’s important to keep cutting your grass during the weeks before winter so that it is as short as possible at the end of the growing season. Shorter grass acts as a protector for fragile new growth and also discourages nesting by mice and other animals which may damage large areas of your lawn.

Gradually reducing the length of your grass with a series of cuts will be less traumatic for the plants than one severe cut at the end of the season.

Contact Us

Keeping your lawn in great condition all year round can be a laborious process. But getting professional advice on the exact combinations of fertilizers and weed-killers you need, and when to apply them, can significantly improve your results without involving any extra work.

W P Law of Lexington SC has been in the business since 1970. Contact us today for details on how we can help you.

3 Basic Steps to Winterizing Your Pump  

Winter Pump

As the irrigation season comes to an end and winter approaches, now is the time to begin thinking about winterizing your irrigation system, especially your pump. Failure to do this critical maintenance now can lead to an unpleasant surprise in the spring with a damaged pump casing. Here are a few simple tips on preparing your pump for winter.

Turn Off Power

This is very easy. Go to your breaker box and turn off the breaker that supplies power to your pump. This is an important first step and will ensure that if the irrigation controller were to inadvertently call for the pump to turn on, it will not be able to. This prevents the pump from running dry and damaging the shaft seal.

Drain the Pump

At the lowest point on the pump casing there is usually a drain plug that can be removed to allow water to drain from the pump. You will need to remove this drain plug and the plug on the discharge side where you would normally add water to prime the pump. By removing the priming plug you allow air to enter the pump casing which will allow the water in the casing to drain faster. It is important to allow the casing to drain completely as it only takes about 1/4 inch of water in the bottom of the pump casing to freeze and crack the casing. Once the pump casing is empty, replace the drain plug and priming plug. Leave the drain plug loose enough to allow any condensation that develops in the pump casing to drain. It is not recommended to leave the plugs out completely as this allows insects and rodents looking for a winter home a place to enter the pump casing. You should also drain any exposed suction or discharge piping at this time as well.

Cover the Pump

Once the power has been turned off and the pump casing and exposed piping properly drained, now it’s time to cover the pump. To protect the pump from the elements, now is a good time to install a pump cover. This can be anything from a home-made dog house type structure to realistic looking fake rocks. If you are planning on leaving the pump cover on your pump year-round, make sure that it provides adequate ventilation so that your pump doesn’t overheat while it’s running during the summer months.

Winterizing your pump is not a difficult task, but is something that if done properly will make your spring start-up easy. If you are in need of expert advice or need to purchase a pump cover, contact WP Law and we will be glad to assist you.

4 Ways a Drip Irrigation System Can Help You and Your Crops  

Crop Irrigation

Fall can bring extreme temperatures, with blazing heat one day and chilly mornings on other days. This can be difficult on crops, especially those with shallow roots. Fall is prime season for plants to establish roots. The best way to promote root growth is with a good irrigation system.

Why Use a Drip Irrigation System in the Fall?

  • Promote root growth: Especially with new plants such as winter vegetables and cover crops, root growth is essential for surviving the winter’s cold. Use the drip irrigation system to boost your crop for the fall.
  • Save water: In the fall you don’t have to worry as much about water evaporation. With regular intervals of watering, you can maximize water usage on your land, keeping your crop growing well into the cold season.
  • Adjust to the changing weather: On cooler days you can use less water and use more water on warmer days. Use a little mulch to help the water stay in the soil so you can have more time between water applications.
  • Save money: When you use less water in the fall, not only are you conserving an important natural resource, but you are also saving on your water bill and increasing your overall profits.

A drip irrigation system can save you time and money. If you would like to know more how you can improve the water usage on your farm or small-scale garden, call us today.

Best Practices for Protecting Your Fountain from Fall’s Leaves 

Fall Fountain

Fall can be a rough time of the year for keeping your fountain well maintained and free of debris. Leaves can clog intake screens and damage your fountain pump. They can also break down and form sentiment that can clog nozzles and cause discoloration to your fountain’s features over time. To help protect your fountain from leaves this fall season try these best practices below.

Cover it for the Season

If you live in a region that has snow earlier in the season, it may be best to winterize and cover your fountain for the cooler weather before the leaves start to fall heavily. You can also buy weatherproof outdoor covers. If you choose this option be sure to properly winterize your fountain before covering it.

Keep it Clean

If you want to keep your fountain running throughout the fall season, you can protect it by cleaning it on a regular basis. For best results, you will want to remove any leaves or fallen debris from the fountain on a daily basis, and drain and clean the debris and sediment from the bowls and other fixtures at least once or twice during the season.

Don’t let the fall leaves damage your fountain. Help keep your fountain looking beautiful and running efficiently throughout the fall season by utilizing some of the best practices listed above.

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