Fall Vermont 2016 | Page 15

33 W pre-winter pre-winter lawn lawn care care pointers pointers inter 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. 1. 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 Pointers, Continued on Page 16 “Really, really happy with the experience and customer service provided by everyone. Sales, office staff, cutting crew, log cleanup and stumping crews were awesome!” The Fall and Winter Months offer unique Opportunities to Service the Need of Your Valuable Landscape Plantings Tree Incorporated offers free consultations with a Certified Arbor