Keeps Lawns Lush Through Winter and Beyond With this Ridiculously Easy TikTok Hack

If there’s one thing that can quietly undo months of lawn care, it’s winter weather in all of its glorious forms: heavy rain, sleet, ice, snow – it all wreaks havoc on our soil, leading to soggy patches, thinning grass, and a lawn that (get ready for the relatable content, folks) struggles to bounce back in spring.

The good news? According to one gardening pro on TikTok, keeping your lawn healthy through winter doesn’t require specialist equipment or complicated treatments. In fact, one of the most effective fixes involves just two things: a garden fork and a bag of lawn sand.

His advice has been gaining traction online for good reason: it’s quick, affordable, and focuses on prevention rather than repair – helping your lawn stay in better shape through winter and come back stronger when the weather warms. Win!

Why Winter Lawns Often Struggle

During winter, grass naturally enters a dormant phase. This means that growth slows, mowing becomes utterly unnecessary (hurray!), and many gardeners assume there’s nothing more to do.

While the grass may be resting, though, the soil can quickly suffer across all USDA Planting Zones, and especially in areas with heavy rainfall or clay-heavy ground. Think about it: when soil stays saturated, it limits the oxygen available to grass roots. Compaction makes matters worse, preventing excess water from draining away.

Over time, this can weaken roots, encourage moss, and leave behind muddy or bare patches that linger well into spring. And here’s where @GardeningWithIsh’s simple drainage hack comes in.

As Ish explains, it’s not officially “too cold” to worry about your lawn — but if you’re noticing wet or boggy patches forming, it’s a sign drainage needs attention.

His method is refreshingly straightforward. Using a standard garden fork, gently poke holes into the affected areas of the lawn. These holes allow excess water to drain away more easily and help air reach the roots.

Once that’s done, add a small amount of lawn sand or apply a thin compost into the holes to keep them open and improve long-term drainage. Low-effort, true, but it can have a big impact over the winter months.

Shopping Essentials:

It's basically an easy form of aerating your lawn, right? And so, to get the best results, timing and technique matter more than force. Choose a mild winter day when the ground isn’t frozen and avoid working on the lawn if it’s completely saturated.

Push the garden fork (or if you prefer, lawn aerator tool from Amazon) a few inches into the soil, spacing the holes evenly across any areas that tend to hold water. There’s no need to lever the fork back aggressively: you’re creating drainage channels, not tearing up the lawn.

Once the holes are in place, sprinkle lawn sand over the surface and brush it in so it fills the openings. Lawn sand is designed to improve drainage while still being gentle on grass, unlike builders’ sand, which can compact and cause further problems.

One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make in winter is doing too much. Over-aerating, adding excessive sand, or repeatedly walking over wet and frozen grass can all undo your good intentions. Instead, aim to do the bare minimum – just enough to help your lawn cope with winter conditions, without stressing it further.

That's why this TikTok hack is so great, as it is a) a light touch approach, b) easy as anything, and c) the kind of protective method that also sets the stage for healthier growth in spring.

So there we have it! Plenty of reasons to (once the snow melts) get out there and start addressing drainage problems with a fork and a bit of lawn sand. Sometimes, the simplest fixes really are the ones that make the biggest difference.