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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2016-10-27, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016. Winter lawn preparation leads to greener springs MS — Winter weather can be harsh, especially on lawns. Homeowners who spend much of spring and summer tending to their lawns may fear the impact that winter will have on their once -lush landscapes, making the fall a great time to fortify lawns against any harsh conditions to come. Homeowners must take grass type into consideration before taking steps to prepare their lawns for the winter. Some grasses are best fertilized in late -summer, while others should be fertilized in autumn. Cool -season grasses, including fescue and bluegrass, are best fertilized sometime between the months of September and November. Warm -season grasses, such as Bermuda or zoysia, should be fertilized between July and September. Once homeowners have gained a greater understanding of their lawns, they can begin exploring the various ways to prepare their lawns for whatever winter has in store. • Explore winterizing fertilizers: Homeowners who want to make their grasses more winter hardy can consult landscaping professionals to determine if winterizing fertilizers will work for their lawns. These specially formulated fertilizers, many of which are made exclusively for cool -season grasses, contain higher levels of potassium and lower levels of nitrogen than early -season fertilizers. Potassium helps strengthen and harden plants, and cool -season grasses may need extra potassium as winter settles in. Homeowners who are not sure if they should apply winterizing fertilizer can conduct soil tests to determine the potassium levels in their soil. If the test indicates the soil has sufficient potassium, then applying a winterizing fertilizer is likely unnecessary. In addition, homeowners who have fed their lawn a balance of nutrients throughout spring and summer likely will not need to apply winterizing fertilizer. • Get rid of fallen leaves: While fallen leaves may be integral components of idyllic autumn landscapes, leaves left on the lawn throughout the winter may lead to disease in the grass. Leaves trap moisture and block sunlight and air from reaching grass, and that can encourage the development of disease. In addition, leaves can harbour insects that also may contribute to disease. While it might seem like common sense to delay leaf removal until the end of autumn when all the leaves have fallen, that, too, can prove harmful to lawns. Leaves left laying on lawns for long periods of time can contribute to the same types of damage as leaves left on the lawn throughout winter, so do your best to remove leaves as they fall. • Take steps to fight snow mold: Homeowners who live in regions where snow falls into spring or where spring tends to be cold and damp may want to take steps to prevent snow mold. Gray snow mold typically looks fuzzy and gray, and lawns infested with snow mold may develop unsightly gray or brown spots indicative of dead grass. Pink snow mold may be even worse than gray snow mold because pink mold attacks the roots as well as the leaves. To prevent snow mold, continue mowing into the fall, even as lawns grow dormant, clearing the lawn of grass clippings and leaves after each mow. Thick lawns may provide a breeding ground for snow mold, so homeowners whose lawns have a history of developing snow mold may benefit from mowing their lawns into the fall. Winter is rarely easy on lawns, but homeowners can take several steps to prepare their lawns for potentially harsh winter weather. Decorative winter ideas Get seasonal The right decorations can make the difference between a room that feels warm and welcoming in the winter months and one that feels dark and dreary. (Ms photo) Continued from page 21 pillows and candles throughout the year, rotating through holiday reds, spring florals, summer brights and fall browns and oranges as needed. • Light control: Choose window treatments that can adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night any time of year. PowerView Motorization gives you the power to control and schedule your Hunter Douglas window treatments from your smartphone, tablet or a remote control. You can even link it to the ever-changing local sunrise or sunset times, precisely calculated based on your specific location. • Display decorative elements in glassware: Buy a couple of oversized vases that you can stuff with seasonal items, like ornaments during the holidays and beach shells during the summer. For artwork, get simple black or white frames and switch the contents whenever you feel like it. You can frame fabrics, prints, photographs or dried leaves and flowers. • Fresh greenery: Instantly spruce up any space with fresh greenery that matches the time of year. You can use seasonal flowers for a traditional look, or go edgy - modern by using natural elements like a vase of sand in the summer or a basket of pumpkins for fall Vcwe %amet CONCRETE FORMING For All Your Concrete Needs! COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • Foundations • Floor Finishing • Circular Tanks • Sandwich Walls FREE ESTIMATES RR#3 Blyth - Fax 519-523-9604 519-523-9971 Your One Stop Sanitary Service Provider P.E. Inglis Holdings Inc. Doing fall clean up around your house and yard? Time to have your septic tank pumped out and routine checkup. The Ministry of Environment suggests your septic tank should be pumped out on a regular basis by a licensed contractor (3-5 years). Call to arrange a pump out today! - SEPTIC PUMPING Y WW1 FOntario Licensed by: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Environment 1-800-834-4414 Serving .Ifuron, Bruce and Perth Counties Home hardware building centre • Building Supplies • Home Furniture • Housewares • Home Expressions • Seasonal • Kitchen and Bath • Flooring Department • Beaver Homes & Cottages • Projects E-mail: sales@watsonshomehardware.com www.watsonshomehardware.com Three locations to serve you Gorrie - 44195 Harriston Rd., Hwy. 87 - 519-335-3551 Goderich - 370 Bayfield Rd. - 519-524-8312 Listowel - 140 Main St. E., Listowel - 519-291-2610 JN james nicholson RENO'S & coNS1riuc1rloN SERVICES Custom Homes • Renovations • Additions Kitchens • Bathrooms • Window & Door Installation/Replacement • Flooring Installation Ceramic Work • Custom Decks Garages • Farm Buildings • Sheds RR 1 Bluevale, Ontario NOG 1G0 t 519.335.6613 • f 519.335.3476 c 226.622.1074 • e jamie@jamienicholson.ca www.jamienicholson.ca D. 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