You’ve spent all summer admiring your lawn and enjoying its bounties, whether it was outdoor barbecues, camp-outs for the kids, or bonfires on crisp, midsummer nights. Although a snow-covered lawn is likely when you spend the least amount of time thinking about grass, there are a few tips and tricks you can do before and during the colder months to seed the way to a lush, green yard come spring.

Winterizing Do’s

• Do apply lawn fertilizer in early fall to help promote spring growth
• Do save water by shutting off your sprinklers or irrigation during the colder months
• Do keep trees and bushes healthy by removing decaying or dying branches
• Do guard plants and shrubs with mulch—wait until the first hard freeze and add mulch to the base of plants about 2-4 inches deep and cover with soil
• Do clean up your yard and add some of the brown yard waste (like leaves) to your compost pile for insulation

Winterizing Don’ts

• Don’t forget to rake and remove autumn leaves before the snow arrives
• Don’t leave stagnant water sources around your yard—as soon as the weather cools, these are mosquito breeding grounds
• Don’t plow or remove snow from the grass as this can cause patchiness when your spring grass is trying to grow
• Don’t throw yard waste in the garbage! Fall is the perfect time to create a compost pile
• Don’t neglect your garden—clear out any plant debris from garden beds to prevent mildew and mold

The SMSC Organics Recycling Facility offers compost, compost blends, and mulch—year-round! Stop by and see us—we’re located at 1905 Mystic Lake Drive South in Shakopee, Minnesota.