If your winter climate is cold and snowy, you may not be focused on your grass when October and November approach. But before the harsh conditions set in, there are three simple but vital things you can do to protect and enhance the health of your grass.

#1- Fertilize before the first freeze
There are four-step lawn fertilizers on the market for good reason. While most concentrate on their lawn's appearance and health in the Spring, Summer, and early Fall, it is also important to fertilize the lawn before the first freeze. Fertilize between September and November with a winter formula so the grass is hearty enough to endure winter by increasing stem strength and building disease resistance. An added benefit of fertilizing before the first frost is that the fertilizer stays in the soil throughout the entire winter, continuously feeding and nourishing the roots of the grass.

#2- Mow on a low setting
In the early summer, it is a constant race between you and your lawn. It seems as though it visibly grows as soon as you finished mowing so the desire to cut it shorter to stay ahead of the growth is strong. However, at the end of the summer, when the grass has slowed its growth, it is important to change your mowing strategy. Instead of cutting the grass drastically short each time, you should gradually adjust the setting to a lower one each time. If you wait until the cool weather to cut all the grass at once, it can shock the grass which may affect how it weathers the winter.

Conversely, don't let the grass tall for the winter thinking it will help it weather the harsh conditions. Mice and other burrowing animals will take advantage of the tall grasses to build their winter homes which could create a lot of dead spots and damages as Spring approaches.

#3- Keep unnecessary traffic to a minimum
Short, brown, brittle winter grass is often used as a walking path in the winter months without much thought as to how a fragile, worn path will recover in the Spring. Keep snowy and icy sidewalks clean so pedestrians will not be tempted to walk through your yard in the winter.

In addition to foot traffic, lawn furniture, logs, toys, and leaves should be removed from the lawn before winter approaches. The presence and weight of these items on the lawn can create dead spots that will experience stunted growth in the Spring.

While not just a winter lawn tip, please remember that you should never allow vehicles to park on your lawn, no matter how small they may be. The tire impressions in the soil will most definitely kill the grass underneath and enable the rapid growth of crabgrass and other weeds.

Abiding by these three simple but effective tips will increase your chances of enjoying a healthy lawn during all of the seasons of the year while making your early Spring lawn the envy of the neighborhood.

If weeds are multiplying profusely in your yard, but you have a pet and do not want them to digest these harmful chemicals, fear not, there are homemade remedies you can apply that will kill the weeds and protect your pets and kids. These are very simple and can be done in your home kitchen. Prior to doing any of these remedies, it is helpful to trim the weeds with garden shears to weaken the plant. Before beginning, make sure you have additional supplies such as a tarp and stakes handy as well as spray bottles.

Water:
Boil a pot of water and pour it on your weeds. Yes, it really works. How? The temperature of the water scalds the weeds and causes them to wither quickly.

Newspaper:
Cover weed growth with newspaper. Of course, you will need netting or something to keep the newspaper from blowing away. It is an effective remedy because the lack of sunlight kills the weeds.

Salt:
Rock salt, when applied carefully, kills weeds. It will dehydrate the weeds within several days. However, the problem with using salt is that it kills everything around it so vegetation growth in that area will also die. A salt water mixture can work too. Dissolve one cup of rock salt into one gallon of hot water. Transfer into a spray bottle to apply. Re-apply five and ten days later to crabgrass and broadleaf weeds.

Vinegar:
The acidity of vinegar makes it a logical component in pet safe weed killers. The acetic acid lowers the pH of the weed but also any other vegetation it is applied to. For this reason, applying vinegar with a paint brush directly on the weed is recommended. Be sure to apply on a sunny day where there is no rain in the forecast so the vinegar does not wash off or spread to other vegetation.

Note: Vinegar is produced with various concentrations of acetic acid. Vinegar purchased at grocery stores typically contains 5% acetic acid. If you are serious and want a stronger formula, there are vinegars available online or at restaurant supply stores that contain 20% acetic acid.

Vinegar can be mixed with lemon juice to create another remedy. Combine four ounces of lemon juice with one liter of white vinegar. Transfer to spray bottle and carefully apply only on weeds. While this method will not immediately kill the roots, several applications will weaken the weed and eventually kill it. A vinegar, salt, and soap mixture may work too. Mix one gallon of white vinegar, one cup of salt, and one tablespoon of liquid dish soap to create a spray mixture that has multiple modes of action to kill the weed. Vinegar lowers the weed's pH, salt dries out the weed, and the dish soap creates an adhesive to make the mixture stick on the plant. Re-apply the mixture after 24 hours for best results.

All of these remedies are safe and effective though it is important to realize they will not automatically attack the root of the weed and may not create the immediate results that some of the commercially available chemical compounds do. The idea behind these mixtures is to reapply and weaken the weed overall until the root eventually dies. Persistence is definitely required, but it will be worth it for your yard will be chemical-free and safe for your pets and family!