The Newsleaders
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice
  • Resource Guides
    • 2021 Sartell Spring Resource Guide
The Newsleaders
No Result
View All Result

Stearns Bank Welch/Pediatrics
Home Opinion Column

What does winter injury look like on your lawn?

March 19, 2021
in Column, Opinion, Print Editions, Print Sartell - St. Stephen
0
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

by Maggie Reiter
guest columnist
University of Minnesota Extension educator, turfgrass

The snowmelt is on and we are starting to see our lawns appear in Minnesota.

Lawns will start greening up as air and soil temperatures continue to rise over the next month. Impacts from winter stresses may become visible and there are a few general indicators to explain winter injury.

Snow mold looks like circular patches of matted, greyish grass that can be up to three feet in diameter. Several patches can come together to form an irregular pattern on the lawn. Close inspection can show white or pink fungal growth, called mycelium.

All Minnesota lawn grasses can be affected, although fine fescue grasses are less susceptible. Snow mold disease damages grass leaves but usually will not kill the entire plant. To promote recovery, lightly rake these areas to fluff up the matted leaves.

Salt damage from de-icing products applied to sidewalks over winter months appears as straw-colored grass next to hardscapes like sidewalks, driveways and streets. Damage will appear as a gradient with more intense damage at the edge of the hardscape and lessening damage toward the center of the lawn.

Any vegetation can be injured by high salt loads. Research conducted on Minnesota roadsides has shown that establishing fine fescue areas will provide improved lawn quality under salt stress. Spring rains should help to leach salts from the soil. Next winter, consider using salt alternatives to minimize turf damage.

Some parts of your lawn will simply not green up, leaving dead grass and bare spots. Winter stresses are not well understood and turf loss could be due to many factors, including those described above, plus desiccation and ice cover.

Winter injury problems are more likely to occur in areas that did not have consistent snow cover, areas with poor drainage or standing water, and areas that received foot and equipment traffic.

Repair these areas with seed or sod. We recommend fine fescues and tall fescues for lower-input lawns, and Kentucky bluegrass can be used for higher-maintenance lawns. Perennial ryegrass is often included in patch-and-repair mixtures but is not a good choice for Minnesota lawns because it is not winter hardy. Seed can be purchased from local and online retailers.

Previous Post

A look at the backdrop as work begins on new state budget

Next Post

March 19 Sartell people

Next Post

March 19 Sartell people

Please login to join discussion

murphy granite CentraCare SartellLionsCleanUp

Hiring local
Columnist
writer!
Love to
write??
Senior Linkage SUPPORT FOR
OLDER ADULTS
DURING COVID-19
Senior LinkAge Line connects
older adults and caregivers
to essential services and
supports during the pandemic.
800-333-2433
Whitney Senior Center whitney senior center
wellness workshops
1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud health coaches
for hypertension
Mondays
April 26-June 14
10-11:30 a.m.
In-person at Heritage Hall

Fridays
May 21-July 16
9:30-11 a.m.
In-person at
Whitney Senior Center/Zoom
SistersoftheOrder

Search

No Result
View All Result

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Old St. Joe police and fire hall for sale
  • Funeral for James Edmund Simon, 71, St. Joseph
  • School district receives more federal COVID relief money
  • Video students capture real-life business experience
  • COVID cases up, but schools stay open

City Links

Sartell
St. Joseph
St. Stephen

School District Links

Sartell-St. Stephen school district
St. Cloud school district

Chamber Links

Sartell Chamber
St. Joseph Chamber

Community

Calendar

Citizen Spotlight

Criers

People

Notices

Funerals/Visitions

Obituary

Police Blotter

Public Notices

Support Groups

About Us

Contact Us

News Tips

Submissions

Advertise With Us

Print Advertising

Digital Advertising

2021 Promotions

Local Advertising Rates

National Advertising Rates

© 2021 Newleaders

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice
  • Resource Guides
    • 2021 Sartell Spring Resource Guide

© 2021 Newleaders

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In