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Do I Have to Water the Lawn in Winter?

It can also be dry in winter, do you have to water the lawn then?
It can also be dry in winter. Do you have to water the lawn then? Photo: Getty Images / Artur Henryk Bialosiewicz

December 8, 2024, 2:55 pm | Read time: 2 minutes

Ideally, Christmas is white, and winter is characterized by snowflakes and a white landscape. In this case, the lawn in the garden is also covered in snow. But what if it’s a dry winter? Do you still have to water the lawn?

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From spring to fall, it is clear that you should water your garden regularly. But what about a dry winter? Do you need to water the lawn in December even if there is no snow for a while? myHOMEBOOK asked an expert.

Should You Water Your Lawn in Winter?

The subject of watering in winter is somewhat complicated, says Dr. Harald Nonn from the German Lawn Society: “I wouldn’t water the lawn in December. There is a risk of frost. If the ground freezes at night and the sun shines during the day, then we can expect drought damage.” The expert adds that watering is then actually necessary to prevent this damage.

However, he has one point to consider: “If it freezes again after watering, we have created a patch of ice.” The expert, therefore, recommends not watering domestic lawns in December. You simply have to accept the bare frost. “It’s usually the case that the soil loosens up a little towards the top.” If you then walk over it, you would put different loads on the soil and press it in. The result is a “mogul slope” in summer, adds Dr. Nonn.

What are bare frosts?
Bare frosts occur when sub-zero temperatures hit the ground that is not covered in snow – in other words, it is “bare”.

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What to Do If There is Too Much Snow?

If the opposite happens, i.e., too much snow has fallen, garden owners must also pay attention to certain things, explains the professional: “If you have to clear away snow because it is lying in an unfavorable place, you should make sure that you don’t shovel it onto the lawn and that relatively high snowdrifts don’t form there.”

It is dark underneath, so diseases can spread quickly. “This weakens the grass,” summarizes the expert. It is, therefore, advisable not to shovel the snow that has fallen in the garden onto the lawn. You should also avoid walking on the lawn when there is snow on it.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@petbook.de.

Topics Garden in January Garten im Dezember Lawn Winter
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