THE LAWN IN WINTER

The cold season is approaching and we must get ready for the cold, rain, wind, snow and all that winter brings with it. When the cold season arrives, we not only get out our duvet and fleece pyjamas but also need to take care of the garden, because we are not the only ones who suffer from the harsh winter weather.

1. Constant maintenance for a healthy lawn 

Several steps are required when considering taking care of our garden in winter, and they are all important. The natural blanket, or cover, that the lawn needs during winter is called mulch. It consists of a mixture of dry leaves and bark which, if properly spread over soil, will keep the roots of plants and flowers in the garden warm. This blanket, which must be at least four centimetres thick for it to be effective, will keep the ground warm and stable, preventing the lawn from turning yellow in winter. 

For larger, more delicate plants, instead, simply tie sticks or bamboo canes with jute to protect them from strong gusts of wind.

It’s essential to leave space for sunlight, which is extremely important for plants also during the winter period. 

Moreover, stop using fertilisers, as they are harmful to plants during winter because they weaken them. Ideally, you should gradually stop using them as early as the end of summer and even totally eliminate them in autumn.

Furthermore, in winter the lawn is much more damp and wetter than in the warmer months due to rainfall and humidity. So watering the lawn when there’s already plenty of rainfall during the day will be counterproductive. This is not a problem when it comes to synthetic lawns, which, if top quality, will look neat and tidy even during the cold seasons. A synthetic lawn therefore does not require maintenance like a natural lawn.

2.  Synthetic lawn, beware of ice

The weight factor of the brush mower is crucial. Indeed, 50% of the machine weight affects its performance, especially the force of the tractor to which it is attached. 

The diameter of the tube and the rotating body also affect the performance of the machine, since there is a direct relationship between the peripheral cutting speed and the diameter of the rotating tube. The larger the diameter, the higher the peripheral cutting speed. As a result, you will have a faster and more efficient machine.   

Lastly, the length of the machine affects the number of tools that can be attached, all of them being driven by the machine motor. 

Some brush mowers perform various functions, but the few lubrication points are extremely important for the machine to perform at its best. 

The bevel gearbox is the only oil-wetted component on brush mowers and transmits the PTO of the tractor directly to the machine. It’s therefore essential to change the oil in the gearbox.

There are various greasing points, but the main ones are definitely the rotor bearings. Other points may include the universal joint of the tractor, the pins and bushings that allow machine movement, and the support roller bearings. We recommend lubricating the machine approximately once every eight working hours. If it is operated in water, this time interval should be halved. The hydraulic system of the brush mower has no prescribed replacement time interval, and no specific type of lubricant. The owner therefore needs to decide when lubrication is required.

3. Synthetic lawn, beware of ice

A synthetic lawn is not an impermeable surface, but rather a surface with a high drainage capacity, meaning that water, even after heavy rain, will run off without leaving any trace. Not having puddles results in a clean garden and fewer insects, especially mosquitoes. 

High-quality synthetic turf will look good all year round regardless of the temperature and climate, however, there are some small precautions that need to be taken when it snows. Of course, you can also play snowballs on a synthetic lawn but care must be taken so that snow doesn’t build up and create a layer of ice. Ice is harmful to synthetic lawns because it can ruin its fibres. So, if there’s a heavy snowfall, you need to brush the synthetic turf to prevent ice from forming.