As winter is on the way, rain, frost and potential snow are on the way, meaning gardens are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Freezing conditions have the power to cause havoc on plants by bursting cell walls, leaving them to turn black and die. With colder temperatures coming, gardeners across the UK are being warned against one crucial mistake they need to avoid this December: walking on their lawns.
This is especially important as temperatures have been plummeting since November, which saw the coldest night of the autumn season with temperatures plunging to -12.6C in Scotland, and this month a strong storm, freezing temperatures and heavy snow are on the way. The BBC gardening blog, Gardeners’ World issued the no walking on lawns guidance as part of its ‘How to protect Plants in winter guidance. It stated: “Avoid walking on grass in winter, particularly when frost or snow blankets the lawn. If you do step on it, you’ll notice that your footprints linger, as frozen grass blades break underfoot.”
The reasoning behind why you should avoid walking on your lawn is to prevent your plant’s roots from being damaged and unable to absorb nutrients, control erosion by reducing foot traffic and reduce soil compaction, which makes it difficult for water, nutrients and oxygen from accessing the soil and a plant’s roots.
Greg Loades, of The English Garden, also wrote a guide for how to prepare your grass for winter and said: “Apply an autumn fertiliser with a wheeled spreader or by hand (wear gloves if spreading feed by hand) and scatter the fertiliser over your lawn.”
Greg is of the opinion that preparing your grass for the winter is necessary for the health of your plants, and grass while maintaining a “luxuriant lawn for the next growing spring and summer.”
By avoiding walking on your lawn, you are protecting the quality of your soil and any potential seedlings. By acting sustainably you are ensuring your lawn is healthy and able to continue growing beautifully all year round.
Gardeners’ World also said that avoiding the grass is crucial for lawn maintenance, as it helps preserve grass blades from becoming brittle.
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