The Lawn Task You Can Do In Winter For Greener Grass In Spring

If you love the look of a lush green yard, you probably look forward to spring each year. Grass typically transitions back to its most lively state during this season. However, you do not have to wait until then to start bringing your yard back to life. There is a lawn task you can complete in winter for greener grass in the spring. All you need to do is extract the excess worm castings in your yard prior to the start of spring to improve the look of your grass. However, this task is only necessary for yards with extensive amounts of worm castings. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, GreenPal CEO Bryan Clayton shared his expert opinion on removing worm castings and what it could do for your yard.

"An excessive amount of worm castings can create an uneven lawn surface that leads to increased difficulty in spring mowing," Clayton explained. "When the ground has little dirt mounds which cause bumps you should consider leveling them." You will need to examine your yard to determine whether it contains enough worm castings for this lawn care tip to be beneficial. Clayton shared how to identify them. "Walking on your lawn and feeling bumpy or uneven terrain indicates a problem," he said. "The appearance of small dirt mounds clustered throughout your yard indicates a high level of worm activity." If you find excessive amounts, you may need to add this chore to your to-do list when caring for your lawn in the winter.

If you have an excess of worm castings that need to be removed, you can do so yourself by following a few simple steps Clayton provided. Make sure to complete this process during a dry day when your yard isn't wet. "Use either a lawn rake or broom to gently brush the castings into the grass," Clayton said of the first step of the process. The next step requires the use of some heavier equipment. "Use a bagger attachment when mowing to effectively collect loose castings," he said.

Along with removing worm castings, consider getting your yard ready for spring revitalization, too. The expert detailed this process in his exclusive interview with House Digest. "A light soil top dressing with compost prepares the ground for better growth when spring returns," he explained. You can also apply pre-emergent herbicide to put an end to weeds before they have a chance to actually sprout. Pair this with a high nitrogen fertilizer.

Clayton recommended using a granular high nitrogen fertilizer since it is more effective than liquid options. The GreenPal CEO also warns that you might want to hire a professional to apply these chemicals to your yard. Investing in a lawn maintenance program is also a good idea if you do not have time to complete these steps yourself. Additionally, you should avoid allowing heavy leaves to pile up because they can suffocate your grass, according to Clayton. Lawn mower maintenance is vital, too. "Keeping your mower blades sharp produces clean cuts which result in healthier grass during spring," the expert added.

This task isn't for everyone. In fact, removing all worm castings unnecessarily is actually a major lawn maintenance error. Clayton explained why. "The majority of homeowners don't need to be concerned about this issue," he admitted while speaking exclusively to House Digest. "Worm castings provide essential benefits to lawns by enhancing soil structure alongside adding nutrients and moisture retention capabilities."

There are also a few pros and cons you should be aware of to help determine whether removing the worm castings from your yard is right for you. As for the pros, Clayton shared that this task will level out your lawn to make even mowing easier. It also prevents compacted soil patches that can contribute to an unhealthy looking lawn. On the other hand, the task is not always necessary. You could also end up removing too much soil, which would upset the ecosystem balance of your yard given the benefits worms provide via soil aeration.

All in all, Clayton warns that you can leave the worm castings in your yard in most cases. However, you will experience the aforementioned benefits if you cut down on an excess of castings. "The lawn will be better prepared for spring growth when you smooth out excessive worm castings during the winter months," he said.