With temperatures remaining cool across the country, many Britons have woken up to a layer of frost on their plants, lawns and cars.
While frost may look pretty on lawns, it can cause extensive damage, especially if gardeners walk across the grass.
When it’s frosty, individual grass blades are more fragile and prone to breakage. So, while it may feel satisfying to hear your lawn crunch underfoot, this could be causing significant damage.
Lawn expert Chris McIlroy of The Grass People has explained why walking across frosty grass in the winter should be avoided.
He said: “Frost can be tough on grass, causing damage that can impact its health well into spring. With its fragile state, walking on a frosted lawn can worsen the impact. Each step can crush and break blades, which can’t bend and flex as they usually would.
“Footfall can also cause soil compaction in the frozen conditions, especially if the lawn is still slightly damp from rain or dew. Compacted soil reduces root growth and water absorption, both essential for lawn recovery.
“When frost arrives, it’s crucial to limit the damage as much as you can.”
If there is debris on your lawn, this can also cause mould and disease to develop and thrive which can leave long-term damage once frost has melted.
Mr McIlroy added: “Regularly clearing fallen leaves, branches and other debris can help keep grass healthy and prevent moisture build-up that can cause fungal problems.
“You should be gentle when removing items from the lawn, considering the delicate state it will be in. Rough raking can also exacerbate damage to the frozen grass blades.
“Waterlogged soil can worsen frost damage. If you’ve noticed water pooling in your lawn, it would be wise to improve drainage to allow water to flow away from the surface so it doesn’t freeze the grass’ roots.”
One task gardeners should avoid when it’s frosty is fertilising lawns as this could encourage grass to grow that is vulnerable to frost.
“Feeding your lawn when frost is present is also ineffective, the feed will likely get washed away. Save your efforts for spring when the grass can absorb the nutrients,” Mr McIlroy added.
Mowing should also be avoided if your lawn has frost, as this could tear the grass and damage its roots. If the roots are damaged, your grass may not be able to recover when the weather warms up.
If you’re waiting to complete your last mow of the year, wait until the frost has melted and the lawn is dry before mowing it.
Make sure to mow your lawn on the highest setting to ensure it’s longer during the winter.
The expert added: “Frost doesn’t have to be a death sentence for lawns, with the right precautions, grass will flourish again in spring.”
