Last year was the winter for heavy snowfall and dramatic temperatures changes, including freezing and melting snow.  Snow may look like a nice warm blanket, but its prolonged stay can damage your spring lawn. That’s not all, shifts in temperatures and precipitation throughout the winter season can result in damaged roots, nutrient deprived areas, and even dead patches. 

Problem No 1: Fungus Growth

Snow can be a great insulator for our lawn helping protect turf from the biting chill of winter.  Shifting temperatures, like we experienced this winter, causes snow to melt, and when the temperature drops, the left-over water freezes. This creates patches of ice, which may then be covered with another layer of snow.  The ice suffocates turf leaving dead and damaged areas.

But that’s not all, brief warm spells, like the one we had this past February, creates a perfect environment for snow mold to thrive.  There are two types of snow mold to watch out for pink snow mold (Fusarium patch) that effects the crown of the turf and the less devastating grey snow mold (Typula blight) that infects the leaf tissue.  A tell-tale sign that your lawn has been infested with snow mold are dead circular patches of grass that appear when the snow has melted. 

Solution:  Repair your disease damaged lawn with Earth Element’s regiment of lawn cultural practices combined with a nutrient and over-seeding programs to help bring those damaged patches back to life.

Problem 2: Pest Infestation

Lots of snow coverage can create the perfect environment for voles, moles and mice to hide.  During the cold winter months, these rodents will feed on the roots of turf and bulbs burrowing deep into the lawn for warmth. If you find, S-shaped paths, tunnels, and holes throughout your lawn it most likely means that your lawn has become a rodent habitat.

Solution:  Dethatching and aerating the lawn is the first step to repairing your infested lawn. This will help to disturb the rodent’s habitat, so that they do not create future harm.  Now that the rodents are gone, it is time to repair the damaged pieces.  This begins with over-seeding the bare areas, adding in additional nutrients and top dressing so that the new turf is off to great start.   Earth Elements Spring Lawn Renewal Program including dethatching, aerating and over seeding is the perfect program to get your damaged lawn back on track.  Our over seeding program includes a blend of seeds, including Kentucky Blue Grass, Fescue, Rye Grass and native Poa Annua’s, providing the perfect combination for Muskoka lawns. 

Problem 2: Perimeter Damage

Heavy and frequent snow falls can cause perimeter damage to your lawn which was inadvertently created by snow-blowers, salt application, and plows.  These damaged edges can detract from the beauty of a lush, flourishing spring lawn. 

Solution:  Earth Element’s Premium Spring Lawn Package, including aeration, dethatching, over seeding and fertilizer application, will bring those damaged areas back to life.  For a quick jump start, boost the lawn with compost using our Eco-Lawn topdresser for a perfect spread of compost. 

Beautiful, thriving lawns requires both time and understanding.  This begins with diagnosing the cause of the damaged turf, and then providing the best solution to respond to it.  At Earth Elements, we invest the time to understand the root of  your turf challenge ensuring that we provide the program that is specifically developed to respond to the needs of your lawn.  Our goal is to provide the tools and expertise that will keep your lawn looking full and green throughout the summer season.