How to Winterize Your Yard: Essential Lawn Protection Tips

As winter creeps in, many homeowners put away their mowers, thinking lawn care can wait until spring. In reality, your lawn isn’t off duty this season; it’s quietly switching to survival mode. Properly winterizing your yard helps your grass, trees and shrubs survive freezing temperatures, ice, snow and wind while storing nutrients for a strong comeback in spring.

Taking time now to protect your lawn ensures fewer problems, healthier growth and a green, lush yard when the snow melts. Even small steps like proper fertilization, mowing and pest prevention can make a big difference.

Here’s a closer look at what preparing your lawn for winter should look like, with expert tips from TruGreen. 

Lawn dormancy is a natural survival strategy. When grass enters dormancy:

• Above-ground growth slows or stops
• Energy is conserved in the roots
• Nutrients are stored to support recovery in spring

Dormancy isn’t limited to winter; it can also happen during periods of drought. While it helps your grass conserve energy, it won’t protect against every winter stress. Preparing your lawn beforehand ensures it stays healthy and wakes up refreshed in spring. 

Winterizing your yard means taking a few key steps: mowing, feeding, protecting and keeping an eye on your lawn, trees and shrubs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get it ready for winter.

Feeding Your Lawn and Landscape Before Winter (Winter Fertilization)

Proper fertilization helps grass store energy for a strong spring comeback. Follow these tips for success:

• Apply your final fertilization while soil temperatures are still above 50 degrees
• Focus on feeding vulnerable plants, such as evergreens and newly transplanted shrubs or trees
• Use a balanced fertilizer designed for your area that contains nitrogen and potassium

The Last Mow Before Winter (Best Practices)

The final mow sets the stage for a healthy winter and spring. Here’s what we recommend:

• Lower your mower deck slightly to shorten grass blades
• Shorter blades reduce the risk of snow mold and matting under snow
• Sharpen the mower blade and continue mowing until growth stops entirely
• Leave grass clippings and leaves on the lawn as natural mulch and nutrient boosters

Pro tip: If your lawn is prone to snow mold, avoid leaving large clumps of leaves or debris on the grass.

Snow Protection: Preventing Damage from Ice and Snowplows

Winter landscapes can pose physical risks to your lawn. Try these top tips:

• Use brightly colored stakes or flags to mark driveways, sidewalks, sprinkler heads and garden beds
• Avoid heavy posts or metal objects that could harm operators or your lawn
• Watch for salt spray from roads and driveways, which can harm soil and grass. Flush affected areas with water to dilute salts
• Protect delicate shrubs and young trees with burlap wraps or temporary barriers

Controlling Winter Weeds and Pests

Winter isn’t a pause in plant health, which means that pests and weeds can still cause damage. Here’s how to keep things in check:

• Treat broadleaf weeds in late fall to reduce spring competition
• Bait for rodents to prevent damage during late-winter snow cover
• Apply horticultural oil to trees and shrubs to target pests before they become active
• Remove debris from garden beds where pests can overwinter

Pro tip: Mulching around shrubs and trees conserves moisture and discourages overwintering pests. 

A healthy spring lawn depends on careful spring preparation:

• Rake gently as snow melts to remove debris and matted grass
• Check for snow mold and rake affected areas
• Set mower blades slightly lower on the first mow to stimulate new growth
• Apply a spring fertilizer to replenish nutrients

Spring planting ideas:

• Start seeds indoors for winter herbs like rosemary, parsley, mint, basil and winter savory
• Plant outdoor winter-friendly vegetables: radishes, rainbow chard, snap peas and arugula
• Use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine which plants will thrive in your climate