This unusually warm winter could actually end up damaging our lawns and gardens. No snow is actually not good for the health of them.
“Especially if we get these warmer growth periods followed by a sudden, hard freeze,” says John Trappy who is a lawn expert at the University of Minnesota.
As far as wanting to do yard work with the warmer than normal temps? You may be tempted to get out and rake your lawn, but it’s not a good idea.
“You can actually do more harm than good if you get out there and do too much,” Trappy explains. “Whether it be pruning, or raking leaves, being too aggressive for plants that aren’t fully able to outgrow any kind of stress that they’re experiencing.”
Trappy says there’s still some concern that the lack of insulating snow could end up hurting plants, but unfortunately they won’t know the full extent of damage until later in the spring.
“You know, until we start getting soil temperatures that are around the mid-forties or so, really things aren’t going to start growing,” Trappy told WCCO Radio. “So you just gotta try to stay patient.”