When the fall rains come and the mercury starts dropping again, humans aren’t the only living things getting ready for winter. Grass goes into a dormancy period over the winter, but it doesn’t stop growing entirely. Roots keep on growing, overseeded grass establishes and soil keeps settling as snow and rain hits it. These three easy tips will help you take advantage of winter and strengthen your lawn for next year.

1. Rake Those Leaves
It’s always tempting to ignore all those fallen leaves, but don’t let your lawn suffer. Leaves will cut off your grass’s access to sunlight and provide an ideal breeding ground for a whole host of disease. It’ll also encourage larger pests, like voles, to move in and dig up your lawn. Rake up those leaves now.

2. Aeration and Compost
Aeration helps break up soil and gives your grass’s roots plenty of room to spread out over the winter. It also cuts up any built up thatch, discouraging diseases like snow mold. Follow up aeration by overseeding and by applying a scant layer of compost or fertilizer. Rake it into the aeration holes.

Compost does an incredible job improving your soil. It works as a slow-release fertilizer, feeding your lawn all season long. It will also help address drainage issues and keep your soil nice and loamy following aeration. If you have a chronic spring dandelion problem, mix in a calcium-rich additive to combat them.

3. Overseed, Overseed, Overseed
Fall is the best time to overseed, filling in bare patches, replenishing grass that has reached the end of its life and giving your lawn a boost. By seeding now, you’re ensuring that the grass has time to germinate but won’t expend too much energy trying to leaf out. Instead, it will grow deep roots and be nice and strong come spring.

Winter isn’t the end of the road of grass. In one weekend of work, you can set your lawn up for a whole year of better growth.