Cool-season lawns in Bucks County, Montgomery County and South Jersey go dormant over the winter. The grass stops growing, but the roots are still alive. What happens to your lawn between December and March has a real effect on how it looks in April.

Do: clear leaves before the snow

A layer of wet leaves left on the lawn all winter smothers the grass and invites snow mold, a disease that leaves matted gray or pinkish patches in spring. Mow or rake the last leaves before the first snowfall.

Do: make the last mow a little shorter

For the final cut of the season, bring the height down slightly (to around 2.5 to 3 inches). Shorter grass is less likely to mat down under snow.

Avoid: walking on frozen or frosty grass

Frozen grass blades are brittle and break easily. Heavy foot traffic, parked cars or a regular shortcut across the yard can leave brown footprints and paths that last into spring.

Avoid: piling salty snow on the lawn

When you shovel or plow, try not to pile snow from the driveway and sidewalk onto the grass. That snow is full of de-icing salt, and it can burn the turf along the edges. We cover this in detail in our guide to salt damage.

Avoid: fertilizing frozen ground

Fertilizer put down on frozen or snow-covered ground does not feed the lawn. It runs off into storm drains and streams. New Jersey has rules that limit fertilizer applications in late fall and winter, and good practice in Pennsylvania is the same: wait for the ground to thaw and the grass to wake up.

Do: plan your spring now

Winter is the best time to line up your lawn care. Spring schedules fill fast, and the first step of the year, crabgrass prevention, has a tight window. Getting on the schedule early means your first application goes down at the right time.

We serve Newtown, Princeton, Cherry Hill and towns across Bucks, Montgomery, Mercer, Burlington and Camden Counties.