Keep your lawn healthy through Maryland's winter with expert advice. Smart protection and planning now means a beautiful lawn come spring.
Plan Your Spring ServicesCool-season grasses (tall fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass) naturally go dormant when soil temperatures drop below 50°F—typically late November or early December in our area.
Dormancy is protective, not death. Grass blades may turn brown, growth stops, and the plant focuses energy on root survival.
Winter lawn care is about protecting dormant grass from damage while preparing for spring green-up in late March.
Matted leaves block sunlight and air, creating conditions for snow mold. Remove accumulated debris on mild days when ground isn't frozen.
Most important rule! Frozen grass blades are brittle and break under foot traffic, crushing and killing grass crowns. Use walkways instead.
Even unfrozen, winter traffic compacts wet soil restricting oxygen to roots. Create designated pathways for necessary yard access.
Avoid piling snow with road salt on lawn areas—salt damage kills grass. Spread snow thin rather than repeatedly piling same spots.
Winter is perfect for planning spring strategy. Schedule services early—best companies book up quickly once spring arrives.
Dormant grass cannot absorb nutrients. Winter fertilizer washes away polluting waterways or sits uselessly. Wait for spring.
Concentrated nitrogen and salts burn grass even during dormancy. Encourage different areas or train dogs to use designated mulched spots.
Rock salt damages grass roots and soil structure for years. Keep applications 6-12 inches from lawn edges. Use alternatives near grass.
Weight causes severe soil compaction preventing spring recovery. Never store firewood, equipment, or materials on lawn through winter.
Dormant grass is fragile. Remove debris gently with leaf blower on low or light sweeping. Save intensive work for spring.
Walking on frozen grass is the #1 winter lawn mistake in Howard County. Frozen blades break like glass, damaging crowns and creating dead patches that won't recover. On frozen mornings, always use walkways and driveways instead of crossing the lawn.
What's Happening: Grass enters full dormancy. First freezes occur.
What to Do: Complete debris removal. Avoid frozen grass. Be strategic about holiday lighting paths.
What's Happening: Peak winter. Coldest temperatures. Snow accumulation.
What to Do: Minimize traffic. Careful with snow/salt. Plan spring care and schedule services. Review last year's performance.
What's Happening: Late winter. Occasional thaws. Lawns preparing for spring.
What to Do: Continue avoiding frozen grass. Remove debris during thaws. Watch for snow mold. Finalize spring scheduling.
What's Happening: Transition period. Soil warming. Grass breaking dormancy at 50°F.
What to Do: Schedule spring cleanup. Time for early fertilization with pre-emergent crabgrass control.
Gray or pink circular patches appearing as snow melts. Light cases recover naturally; severe cases need fungicide and overseeding.
Serpentine tunnels and dead grass pathways from rodents under snow. Usually recovers with fertilization; severe cases need reseeding.
Brown dead strips along hardscapes from de-icing. Needs lime, heavy watering to leach salt, and often soil replacement with reseeding.
Dead patches in traffic areas or where snow piled. Needs aeration and overseeding. Prevention far easier than repair.
While your lawn rests, ensure a fantastic spring by planning ahead. Schedule these essential services now:
March application with pre-emergent crabgrass control. Critical timing prevents summer weed problems.
Learn More →Remove winter debris, cut back perennials, freshen mulch, prepare beds for planting.
Learn More →Relieve soil compaction from winter. Improve root growth. Pairs perfectly with overseeding thin areas.
Learn More →Fill winter damage and thicken turf before summer stress. Spring establishment is quick in cool weather.
Learn More →Early spring fertilization timing is critical—miss the window by weeks and battle weeds all summer. Best companies fill schedules by late February. Early schedulers get preferred dates; late callers wait weeks. Your lawn will green up faster and stronger than neighbors who wait until April.
Walking on frozen grass is the biggest mistake Howard County homeowners make. Frozen blades are brittle and break easily, damaging crowns and creating dead spots. Even on non-frozen days, minimize traffic because wet soil compacts easily. Create designated pathways and keep kids/pets off during freezing conditions.
No—never apply fertilizer to dormant grass. It cannot absorb nutrients. Winter applications waste money and harm the environment as nutrients wash into waterways. Proper "winterizer" timing is late fall (October-November) before full dormancy. Wait until early spring (March) when soil warms above 50°F.
Several factors: Snow mold (circular gray/pink patches under snow), vole damage (serpentine tunnels), salt damage (brown strips along hardscapes), crown damage from foot traffic (footprint-shaped dead spots), or dog urine (yellow-brown circles). Best prevention is following proper winter care: no frozen grass traffic, minimal salt, debris cleared, fall cleanup completed.
Use salt only on hardscapes, keeping 6-12 inches from lawn edges. Never spread on grass. Consider alternatives like sand, cat litter, or calcium chloride near lawns. Salt damage shows as brown dead strips needing lime, heavy watering to leach salt, and often soil replacement with reseeding—prevention is far easier than repair.
Start in January or early February for best results. Pre-emergent crabgrass control must be applied before soil hits 55°F (late March/early April). Miss this by two weeks and battle crabgrass all summer. Best companies fill schedules by late February. Early planners get preferred dates; late callers wait weeks.
Yes—definitely remove accumulated leaves if you didn't complete fall cleanup. Matted leaves create perfect conditions for snow mold. Remove on mild days when ground isn't frozen. Use leaf blower on low or rake gently to avoid damaging dormant grass. Be gentle—dormant grass is fragile.
Beat the spring rush by planning now. At Greenlawn Inc, we've cared for Howard County lawns since 1986. Our 39 years of experience with Maryland's climate means we understand exactly what your lawn needs to thrive through winter and flourish in spring.
As MDA licensed professionals, we provide comprehensive lawn care programs customized for Howard County conditions.
Call (410) 992-8680 to Plan SpringGreenlawn Inc
Phone: 410-992-8680
Service Areas: Ellicott City, Columbia, and all of Howard County, Maryland
MDA Pesticide License #23902 | MDA Fertilizer Applicator #F0684
Family Owned • MDA Licensed • Expert Lawn Care