The temperatures are dropping, snow is starting to fall and stick to your lawn – while most people think of building snowmen and having snowball fights, have you ever wondered what the snow does to your lawn?  Fallen snow only affects the grass blades above ground that you can see, but does not really impact the overall health of the grass plant as the majority of the plant is underground, specifically the root system.  Throughout its growing season, the grass roots store up energy in preparation for the cold winter months so that it can sustain during heavy snow and ice layering the top of the grass and its blades.  Think of the ground as surrounding the roots as a thermal blanket, protecting the roots from the cold, while keeping the roots warm.

One thing you should be watchful of is potential snow mold appearing on your lawn in early spring, when the snow begins to melt.  There are two types of snow mold, gray and pink, that can start growing even under a layer of snow.  The compacting of the snow to the grass to the ground causes the perfect environment that is moist and dark for the mold to begin to grow and spread.  Make sure to keep an eye out when spring comes, and if you notice certain patches of grass in your lawn that seem discolored, you should contact a lawn professional immediately.

So stay warm, enjoy the snow and rest assured that your lawn will be doing just fine.