This time of year, most people are not thinking about how their lawns respond to outdoor activities, but there are still a few things to consider.
While you read, keep in mind if you have a cool season or a warm season lawn. Cool season lawns (such as Tall Fescue) are actively growing during the cool months of fall, winter, and early spring; while warm season lawns (such as Bermuda, Centipede, and Zoysia) are dormant or in the process of going dormant during the same cool months.
The following tips will help you prevent and repair lawn damage from wintertime fun on any kind of grass.
From Halloween through New Year's Day, there are non-stop occasions for inflatable witches, turkeys, Santas, or snowmen on your lawn, festively placed to delight the neighborhood. Yet, did you know all the cheer could cause issues for your lawn if you're not proactive?
Since cool season grasses are actively growing, smothering areas of the lawn with plastic Santa feet is a real possibility. If you're putting inflatable decorations on your Tall Fescue lawn, move the footprint around slightly every day or consider putting them on your mulched beds. Even though it's cold out, they can still smother your lawn if left on it too long.
If you planted Tall Fescue seed this fall and have young, tender seedlings, then you'll definitely want to keep inflatables off them.
For warm season lawns, smothering is much less of an issue this time of year. If it's unseasonably warm and your lawn is still partially green, consider moving your ghouls and elves around every few days.
Feeling festive? If you have a Fescue lawn, keep your inflatable holiday displays in your mulched beds and off your grass.
Before you light any fuses, think about where you've placed your fireworks. My first choice would be to light them on a non-flammable surface such as a driveway. Yes, I'd rather my driveway suffer burn marks than my prized Zoysia lawn.
During these cool months, Tall Fescue lawns thrive and are full of water and life. That makes them less susceptible to sparks starting a grass fire than with dormant warm season lawns. However, burn damage to your Tall Fescue is still something to keep in the back of your mind as you consider where to stage your display. Scorch marks on your green Fescue lawn will be instantly apparent.
If you lay down a piece of plywood on top of your Tall Fescue lawn to protect it from fireworks, remember to pick it up the next morning. Any item left laying on your grass for too long, especially if we have a warm spell, will cause your Tall Fescue to turn yellow or worse.
The risk of firework damage or grass fire is higher when a warm season lawn is dormant in the fall and winter than when it is actively growing. The reason is because the water has left the leaves - the brown material that remains is dry and can be ignited by sparks. If it hasn't rained for a few weeks, the risk is even higher.
Keep a hose handy and minimize firework sparks from contacting your lawn. Consider tactics to protect your lawn, such as moving the show to the neighbor's lawn (I'm joking - move it to the driveway).
Don't dismay if your lawn gets hurt in all the holiday fun. Here are repair solutions:
Most damage from having fun on your lawn does happen during summertime use of inflatables, fireworks, and tents.
Even so, don't forget about your lawn's health when it comes to holiday decor and festivities this winter. If it's too late and the damage is done, take heart because it can be fixed and repaired. Give us a shout if you have any questions!
Read the rest of our seasonal lawn maintenance tips, by grass type for every month.
Check out our tips on Lawn Care for Inflatables, Fireworks, and Tents During Summertime Fun.