Winter Lawn Bald Spots Caused by “Ice Raking”

A common lawn problem in areas that get multiple days of below freezing weather after a snow or rain event is called “ice raking”. Freezing water expanding just below the soil surface shears soft grass blades above the root causing bald spots. There is no defense for this problem except for having your lawn grow as densely as possible, as this problem tends to be worse in sparsely planted areas. The best thing to do for your newly discovered bald spots is to get seed down as quickly as possible. While temperatures are not yet ideal for seed germination in the Charlotte area, it will get there shortly and the seed will stay healthy and dormant until conditions are good. If your lawn has become excessively “raked” this winter due to all the snow and cold weather an early spring aeration and seeding, while not as effective as a fall seeding, may be your lawns best hope of covering bald spots and crowding out weeds this spring. Covering seed with mulched leaves or compost is a great way to keep ground contact with the seed and increase your spring yield.