Last Updated on November 25, 2025 by Duncan

Heavy snow and ice can leave your lawn with bald patches and worn-out turf. Sure, some lawns recover on their own, but why wait when you can help things along?

After winter, your lawn may have several issues. These things include:

Ice damage

Ice damage happens when thick, frozen layers accumulate on your lawn, stifling the vegetation and blocking air movement.

This sometimes occurs in regions with inadequate drainage or where heavy snow has compacted and melted into ice.

The extended weight of ice, along with a lack of oxygen, can damage grass, creating brown or dead patches. Ice damage is especially problematic in low-lying areas of your lawn, where water collects and frequently freezes during winter.

Snow mold

Snow mold is a fungal disease that grows under persistent snow cover, especially in places where the ground is chilly and damp.

This condition is prevalent when snow accumulates on unfrozen soil or when organic material, such as leaves and grass clippings, is left behind before winter.

There are two types of snow mold:

Grey snow mold: This often damages grass blades but does not harm the roots, resulting in a discolored lawn.

Pink snow mold: A more aggressive form that can damage both grass blades and roots, resulting in bigger swaths of dead grass.

Snow mold develops in areas with poor drainage, leaving lawns exposed to damage.

Vole tunnel damage

Voles are active throughout the winter, thriving beneath snow where they are safe from predators. You’ve probably seen burrow signs in the snow.

The insulating snow cover lets them seek food, such as grass blades and roots, by creating surface-level tunnels over your yard.

These tunnels, which frequently appear as meandering paths of dead grass, can leave your lawn looking damaged and uneven by spring.

The lack of movement and sunlight in specific locations makes it harder for grass to recover naturally, exacerbating the problem. Other evidence of vole activity includes chewed roots and plant damage.

Thin grass

Harsh winter temperatures and extended periods of snow cover can weaken grass, thin it, and leave it spotty once it melts.

Grass blades that have been buried in snow for months receive little to no sunlight and may struggle to regain their color and vigor.

Furthermore, freeze-thaw cycles and temperature variations can weaken the roots, limiting your turf’s ability to thrive.

The combination of these elements makes your lawn appear thin and less lush, providing an open invitation for weeds to infiltrate and spread in the bare areas.

How do you make grass grow back in winter?

So far, we’ve discussed the most common concerns you may encounter on your lawn after winter conditions. Now, how can you assist it to recover for spring? Well, there are several things you can do. These things include:

Get rid of winter debris.

After assessing the winter damage, the most important thing to do for your lawn is to clean it and ensure it is free of debris.

Winter can leave your lawn covered in dead leaves, twigs, and other debris. Once the earth has thawed, brush up all of the debris so your grass can breathe and grow anew.

Dead leaves and branches retain too much moisture, which can lead to fungal disease. Plant waste also provides a habitat for hazardous insects, which can further damage your lawn. In the spring, leaves, branches, and other debris can clog drainage and prevent new growth.

Aerate the soil

Soil is essential for lawn health. Heavy winter snow is bound to compact your soil, and thatch can exacerbate the problem.

Grass in compacted soil fails to absorb enough nutrients to grow robust roots. You should assess the state of your soil; if it is densely packed, clay-like, or exceedingly dry, aerate it.

Aeration loosens the soil and increases drainage, allowing it to breathe and deliver water and nutrients to your roots. Aerate with a hand spike aerator or a machine.

The aerator creates microscopic holes in the soil, allowing it to relax and prepare for future growth.

Overseed the bare spots.

Overseeding is the most effective way to rejuvenate a thinning, barren, or dead lawn. Snow and freezing temperatures can leave bare patches on your lawn.

Overseeding will repair the damage and replace barren spots with lush green grass, restoring your lawn to its former splendor. When overseeding, use high-quality seeds suited to your soil and environment.

Here’s how to overseed or reseed your grass.

• Remove any weeds and dead grass from the areas.
• Aerate the soil thoroughly to loosen it.
• Spread a thin layer of compost throughout the area. Use a rake or tiller to work it into the soil.
• Cover the bald area with seed by hand or with a spreader.
• After sowing, rake the seeds into the soil.
• Water newly sown seeds well.

Fertilize the lawn

Fertilizer is unnecessary during the coldest winter months since most plants go dormant. This also applies to cool-season grasses. While this is the case, you should note that your grass requires extra care after a severe winter.

A healthy lawn requires the nutrients it needs to grow, so apply high-quality lawn fertilizer to your grass every spring.

Once the snow melts and temperatures rise, aerate the lawn and apply an early-spring fertilizer to stimulate growth.

This will stimulate your grass and help it thrive throughout the warmer months. Before feeding your grass, check the soil pH to ensure it is within the optimal range for nutrient uptake.

Water your lawn deeply.

Proper irrigation is another critical step you should take to get healthy grass. Once your sprinkler system is up and operating, begin watering your lawn in the spring.

You can water less in early spring than in the summer. Depending on your environment, you can provide one inch of water per week, less or more.

Plan to water in the early morning or evening to avoid evaporation. Before you water your lawn, make sure it’s dry. Avoid watering your lawn during the rainy season; otherwise, you risk overwatering and stunting its growth.

Be ultra-cautious when mowing.

When your grass begins to re-grow, you can resume mowing. Because grass growth is slowed over the winter, your lawn will be short when spring arrives.

Set your mower a little higher than usual while mowing for the first time, then lower the blades as the grass becomes longer. This will protect the grass while also exposing its roots.

Mowing only the top third of the grass blades prevents overgrowth and protects the health and appearance of your lawn.

Keep the weeds under control.

Weeds can spread in your struggling lawn before it has a chance to grow. Look for weeds emerging in areas where the grass is thin or just starting to grow. You should remove the weeds shortly before spring.

Some homeowners ignore weed problems at the start of the season, which prevents new grass growth and leaves their lawn looking patchy. Furthermore, once they have established roots, they become tough to remove.

If you notice any winter weeds growing in your lawn, pluck them, dig out their roots, or use weed killer to keep them from harming your grass.

Parting shot

With these post-winter lawn care tips, you will awaken your grass from hibernation and restore it to a green, healthy state. The most important thing to remember about lawn maintenance is to be patient.

You must allow your yard adequate time to thrive. Spring temps may entice you to get your hands in the dirt, but the earth must thaw and dry before you can work on it.

This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for the soil to dry, depending on your zone and the winter you had.