Keeping Your Lawn Healthy Through Winter: What London Homeowners Should Know

Winter in London, Ontario can be long and unpredictable. While most homeowners put lawn care on the back burner the moment the first snow falls, a little awareness during the colder months can make a big difference come April. Here's what you need to know about keeping your lawn as healthy as possible through the winter.

Why Lawn Dormancy Matters

Cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fescue — common in southwestern Ontario — go dormant during winter. The grass isn't dead; it's conserving energy and moisture in the root system. This is completely normal. The key is not to stress the lawn while it's in this vulnerable state.

Avoid Traffic on Frozen or Frost-Covered Grass

One of the most common forms of winter lawn damage is foot traffic. Walking on grass when it's frozen or covered in frost breaks the individual grass blades, which are brittle and can't recover while dormant. If you have a regular path people take across the lawn, consider putting down stepping stones or redirecting traffic to a paved walkway.

This is especially true for kids and pets. Over time, repeated traffic on dormant grass can lead to thin, patchy areas in the spring.

Be Careful with Road Salt and De-Icers

Salt runoff from driveways and walkways is one of the biggest threats to lawn health in winter. When salt-laden snow melts and drains into the grass, it draws moisture out of the root zone and can cause yellowing or die-off along the edges of your lawn near paved areas.

Where possible, use sand or pet-friendly de-icers near lawn borders. And when spring arrives, flushing the soil near your driveway with fresh water can help dilute any salt buildup.

Don't Let Leaves Sit Under the Snow

If you didn't get around to raking all your leaves before the snow came, it's worth clearing them off before they get buried under a season's worth of snow. Thick, matted wet leaves block air and light from reaching the soil, creating conditions for snow mould — a fungal problem that can damage large patches of grass and require overseeding in the spring.

Winter Is a Great Time to Plan

Even though you can't do much to your lawn physically in December, it's a great time to take stock of what you want to address in spring. Did parts of the lawn thin out this year? Were there drainage issues? Did weeds take over a section? Making a simple list now means you're ready to act the moment the ground thaws.

Ready for Spring Sooner Than You Think

Spring lawn recovery comes faster when winter went well. Minimal traffic, controlled salt exposure, and no matted debris mean your grass has the best possible chance of bouncing back strong.

When the time comes, Lawns & Lanes offers spring lawn care services to get your property looking its best. Give us a call at 226.234.6541 or visit lawnsandlanes.ca to book your spring consultation before the rush begins.