A little lawn sense
What should I do for my lawn in winter?
Mostly, leave dormant grass alone. Winter is a good time to service tools and plan repairs without trampling frozen or soggy turf.
Protect the surface
Avoid repeated paths over frosted grass. Keep salt and shoveled piles with deicer off turf where practical.
Put products away
Do not fertilize frozen soil or dormant warm-season turf. Store chemicals according to their labels, away from children and pets.
Prepare for spring
Sharpen the mower blade, check equipment and review your soil-test report. Mark problem spots so you can investigate when growth resumes.
Questions from the yard
Should I mow dormant grass?
Mow only if it is actually growing and ground conditions allow.
Should I spread fertilizer on snow?
No. It can leave the site with melting water rather than reaching growing grass.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed October 2026. General US home-lawn guidance; local recommendations may differ.