Growing Grass Where It Snows

Cool-Season Grass

• When growing grass where it snows, select cool-season lawn grass. Fescues, bluegrass and ryegrass are examples of cool-season grasses suitable for snowy areas with cold winters. There are numerous grass cultivars developed for specific climates and growing conditions. Local nurseries, university extension websites and the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) website provide information regarding the best type of grass for your growing region. You may plant grass seed in fall or spring. Fall-planted grass stays dormant under the snow and begins to grow early in spring as soon as the soil warms up.

Leaf Collection and Mowing

• Fall lawn care prepares grass for a long winter under a bed of snow. Rake up and discard leaves from landscape trees. If leaves are left on the ground, they smother the grass, leaving patches of dead or damaged grass. Mow the lawn one last time in late fall after the grass goes dormant and stops growing. Set the mower cutting height at 2 or 2.5 inches. Long grass can bend over on itself, smothering sections of the lawn.

Fertilizer and Herbicide

• Fertilize the lawn in late fall when the grass goes dormant. The fertilizer seeps into the soil and provides nutrition for the roots, keeping grass healthy through the winter. Select a fertilizer high in nitrogen. The Iowa State University website recommends using 1 pound of nitrogen fertilizer for 1,000 square feet of lawn. Fall is the time for weed control, too. Select a broad-leaf herbicide safe for use on lawns and grass areas.

Problems

• In areas where it snows in winter, lawn grass can develop gray snow mold and pink mold. The mold becomes visible in spring when the snow begins to melt. The mold is unsightly in spring, but it generally goes away as spring progresses. In severe cases, the mold can kill sections of the lawn. To keep your lawn looking healthy, rake up areas where the mold has killed the grass. Scatter some new grass seed over the spots to fill in any bare areas.