With the cold weather already upon us, you’re not the only one who’s left shivering. Your lawn is left to brave the sheer cold, but unlike you, your lawn has no way of keeping itself warm. You may be wondering “What’s going to happen to my grass during the winter?”

Keep reading to learn what happens to your grass during the winter.

The Grass is Alive
You’d think that by being in weather that prevents it from prospering, the grass would die. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, more often than not, the grass survives all winter long. Sure, the grass may not always be greener, but that’s just because the roots are frozen, which prevents it from absorbing moisture and causes it to turn brown.

But keep in mind that it can only hold out for so long. To keep your lawn from being destroyed by the cold weather, use a fertilizer that’s geared toward fall, mow the grass until it’s about three inches long and get rid of any leaves. The leaves can cut off any remaining oxygen your grass has, so be sure to thorough. You can use a rake or a leaf blower to get the job done.

Winterizing Your Lawn
Now that you know the grass on your lawn doesn’t perish immediately, it’s up to you to keep it that way. It may seem odd to tend to your garden while it’s cold out, but it’s what will ultimately keep it alive. Winterizing your lawn is pretty simple. In fact, it’s no different than tending to your lawn as if it were warm out.

The first thing to do is to aerate your lawn. Aerating your lawn means providing it with extra oxygen. Once that’s done, apply the right type of fertilizer to give the lawn the necessary nutrients. After you’ve finished, be sure to rake it first before watering it.

Your grass may have to endure the frigid weather, but if you take proper care of it, it will survive. However, it falls to you to keep it alive. If you refrain from maintaining it at least once a week, then your lawn will eventually succumb to the wrath of Old Man Winter. If this is your first time maintaining your lawn while it’s cold out, remember to follow the tips above.