Avoiding The Spring Slush: What To Do With End-Of-Season Snow

Winter’s exit isn’t always graceful. As the weather changes, your yard goes from being sparkling white to a soggy, slushy mess. The melting snow is a signal that spring is approaching, but if left unmanaged, it can lead to a lot of problems.

In this guide, we’ll help you tackle that lingering snow and get your lawn ready for spring.

How to Speed Up Snow Melt Safely

Melting snow too quickly (or incorrectly) can damage your lawn, so here’s how to help it along safely while keeping your grass happy.

• Break up compacted snowbanks: Thick piles take forever to melt, so use a shovel to spread them out and expose more surface area to sunlight. The more the sun can hit the snow, the faster it melts!
• Redistribute snow away from shady areas: Snow in areas that don’t get much sunlight will linger far longer. Spreading it evenly across the yard prevents uneven melting and reduces water pooling.
• Clear snow from drainage areas: Ensure that gutters, downspouts, and natural drainage pathways are free from snow building up. This helps direct the melting water away from your lawn, preventing waterlogging and ice formation.

• Rake lightly to increase airflow: A gentle raking can help fluff up compacted snow, allowing air and warmth to penetrate deeper and speed up the melting process. (Bonus: this also helps prevent snow mould!)
• Use organic de-icers: Skip the chemical salt and go for sand, coffee grounds, or even fireplace ash. These materials help with traction on icy patches and absorb heat to accelerate melting—without harming your grass.
• Encourage even melting: If certain areas of your lawn are melting slower than others, sprinkle a thin layer of dark-coloured soil or compost on top. This helps absorb sunlight, increasing the temperature and speeding up the thaw.

What Not to Do

• Don’t go rake-crazy: Your lawn is fragile after winter, so raking too aggressively can damage the grass before it has a chance to bounce back.
• Avoid piling snow elsewhere on your grass: Clearing up snow from one part and piling it somewhere else is a bad idea. You’re just re-creating the problem for yourself, albeit in a different part of your lawn.
• Skip the heavy foot traffic: Walking on waterlogged or partially thawed grass compacts the soil, making it harder for roots to get the oxygen they need to recover.

Preventing Lawn Waterlogging

As winter melts away, all that water needs somewhere to go – and it will likely pool on your lawn.

When water sits on your lawn too long, it cuts off oxygen to the grassroots, essentially suffocating them. Without proper airflow and drainage, the grass struggles to grow, leading to thin, weak patches that are more susceptible to disease. The soil becomes compacted, making the problem even worse. Puddles on the surface increase the risk of root rot and fungal infections like snow mould.

What to Do for Better Drainage

One of the best ways to prevent standing water is to improve soil drainage. If you notice areas where water tends to pool, aerating the lawn can loosen compacted soil and create pathways for water to filter down rather than sitting on the surface.

If your yard has low-lying areas, redirecting melting snow away from these spots with shallow trenches or slight grading adjustments can help prevent excess moisture from settling in problem areas.

Avoiding Snow Mold & Lawn Fungus

Snow mould is a fungal disease that thrives under melting snow, leaving ugly circular patches of matted, discoloured grass in its wake. This happens when wet, compacted snow sits on your lawn too long, creating the perfect breeding ground for mould spores.

How Snow Mold Harms Your Yard

While snow mould makes your lawn look bad – that’s the tip of the iceberg. It also slows down spring recovery and weakens your grass, making it more vulnerable to further disease, weeds, and thinning. Grey snow mould typically disappears on its own, but pink snow mould can leave lasting damage, causing patchy, dead areas that struggle to regrow.

How to Prevent & Treat Snow Mold

The best way to fight snow mould is to prevent it from forming in the first place:

• Keeping your grass mowed slightly shorter in fall helps minimize moisture build-up under the snow.
• Before winter hits, clear excess leaves and thatch to prevent mould spores from settling in.
• If snow mould has already appeared, gently rake affected areas to loosen matted grass and improve airflow. This helps dry out the fungus and encourages new growth.
• In severe cases, applying a light fungicide may help stop the spread.
• If you still have mould and nothing seems to be working, it’s time to call in the lawn care pros.

Preparing Your Lawn for Spring

With the snow finally gone, your lawn needs some help waking up from its winter hibernation. A post-winter clean-up and the right care will set the stage for a lush, green lawn all season long. Here’s what you need to do to get your yard back in top shape:

• Clear Away Debris: Melting snow can leave behind a mess of twigs, leaves, and other debris. A good clean-up allows air and sunlight to reach the grass, helping it dry out faster and reducing the risk of mould or rot.
• Rake and Fluff Up the Grass: Snow and ice flatten grass blades, making your lawn look dull and lifeless. A light raking lifts the grass, removes thatch, and improves airflow, encouraging new growth.
• Aerate If Needed: If your lawn suffers from compacted soil or standing water, aeration helps break up the soil, allowing water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the roots more effectively.
• Fertilize Strategically: A spring fertilizer application replenishes lost nutrients and gives your grass the boost it needs to grow thick and healthy. Choose a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for sustained feeding.
• Overseed Bare Patches: If winter leaves thin or dead spots on your turf, overseeding can help fill in those areas with new, strong grass. Use a seed blend that matches your existing lawn for a seamless look.
• Watch for Lingering Issues: Keep an eye out for signs of fungal diseases, snow mould, or water damage. Addressing problems early prevents bigger headaches later in the season.

From Spring Slush to Spring Lush

The snow may be melting, but that doesn’t mean your lawn is in the clear! Winter’s mess could end up ruining your spring lawn goals.

That’s where our Green Keepers come in. With aeration, fertilization, overseeding, and expert lawn care, we’ll help your grass recover from winter and thrive all season long.

Serving Winnipeg, Calgary, Regina, Red Deer, Edmonton, and Saskatoon, we’re ready to get your lawn back to its best.

Don’t let winter’s dying embrace hold you back; get an estimate today, and let’s make your lawn green, healthy, and spring-ready!