“Will winter ever end?” is the question on many a landscapers when snowstorms hit. The bad news is that when snowstorms end, they could leave behind mold and mildew if necessary landscaping precautions and steps are not taken. Snow mold and mildew is the yucky aftermath of heavy snowstorms and could wreak havoc on all landscaping, lawns and gardens.
How to Identify Snow Mold
Snow mold can be identified by two identifying qualities. It’s a fungus that grows after the snow melts and is either gray or pink in color. Gray snow mold grows on the leaf or the blade of a plant while pink snow mold, the worst type of snow mold, infects the crown of the plant.
Landscaping to Help with Snow Mold
Landscaping efforts to prevent and remedy snow mold focus on keeping the lawn and garden areas dry and well-maintained throughout the colder months. While it’s true that keeping the lawn dry isn’t feasible when it’s covered under a thick sheet of ice or buried beneath a few feet of snow, proactive steps taken before and after the snow season can significantly reduce the risk of snow mold.
1. Prepare the Lawn Before Winter
The first step to preventing snow mold starts in the fall. Proper lawn care, such as mowing the grass to a shorter height before the first snowfall, can prevent the blades from matting down and creating an ideal environment for mold growth. A final mow at around 2 inches ensures that the grass is short enough to discourage moisture buildup while still protecting the roots from freezing. Additionally, clearing fallen leaves and other debris from the lawn prevents organic material from trapping moisture and fostering mold development.
2. Ensure Proper Drainage
Landscaping strategies that improve drainage can also help prevent snow mold. Aerating the lawn in the fall allows water to drain more efficiently, reducing the chances of moisture pooling beneath snow cover. Similarly, ensuring that garden beds and low-lying areas are properly graded helps direct water away from the lawn when the snow begins to melt.
3. Manage Snow Accumulation
While you can’t control how much snow falls, you can manage how it’s distributed across your lawn. Avoid piling snow in large heaps, as the weight compacts the grass and traps moisture. If snow is shoveled from driveways or walkways, try to spread it evenly across the lawn rather than concentrating it in one area.
4. Early Spring Lawn Care
Once the snow melts and temperatures start to rise, it’s crucial to act quickly. The first priority is to ensure that the lawn isn’t covered for long periods during the initial weeks of spring. Raking the grass lightly can help loosen any matted areas and increase airflow, which speeds up drying and prevents mold from taking hold. While it might feel odd to be outside with a rake when there’s still a chill in the air, this simple task can go a long way toward ensuring a healthy, mold-free lawn.
5. Fertilize Wisely
Another preventative measure is to avoid over-fertilizing in the fall. Excess nitrogen encourages lush, thick growth, which is more susceptible to snow mold. Instead, opt for a balanced, slow-release fertilizer that promotes root growth without excessive top growth.
By incorporating these landscaping practices, homeowners and landscapers can minimize the risk of snow mold and set the stage for a vibrant, healthy lawn come spring. While it might require some chilly outdoor work, the reward of a lush, green lawn is well worth the effort.
Repairing Brown Patches after Storms
Many professional and amateur landscapers also dread the after-storm brown patches caused by dry, humidity-free air as the snow melts. A lawn or garden that isn’t watered correctly are more susceptible to brown patches after a winter storm–yes, even when sitting under a thick sheet of ice or a few feet of snow. As the snow melts, the air remains so dry and the melted snow does not provide enough moisture that a lawn or garden can retain.
Avoiding nitrogen-rich fertilizers and maintaining a consistent watering schedule in the spring, summer, and fall will greatly help and will lessen the number of brown patches seen in lawns after the cold temperatures of winter.
Landscapers are also encouraged to check every few weeks for new mold growths, for mildew growths and for the early appearance of brown patches to ensure spring will bring a healthy mold-free lawn or garden!
Once the snow ends and the temperature increases, homeowners should look out for springtime challenges like powdery mildew, fungus, mushrooms, and other warmer weather diseases. For now, waiting for the last of winter to pass and restoring your lawn to health is a good next step, using mulch and topsoil. Contact us to learn more!
