Winter is coming! Do you know how to winterize your lawn? Grass growth significantly slows and sometimes stops when temperatures drop during the winter months. If you don’t take care of it in the fall, your lawn might not come back in the spring.
It is essential to prepare for colder temperatures by wintering your lawn. Follow these five steps to ensure your lawn survives the winter and returns better than ever in the spring.
1. Let the Grass Grow Tall
One key strategy to protect your grass is to let it grow taller. A trim and close-cut summer lawn are not as resistant to cold weather. When temperatures fall, you can put away your lawn mowing equipment.
Taller grass, although not as attractive, is stronger against the cold. If your Home Owners Association and the local government allow it, let your grass grow tall before the winter. The taller the grass, the better the root system will fair during winter.
2. Stop Fertilizing
Once your grass is tall for the winter, you don’t want it to grow anymore. If your lawn is trying to grow during the winter, it is more susceptible to the cold. Adding fertilizer might spark new growth.
Generally, don’t fertilize after September in North Florida and October in Central Florida.
3. Water Less
Watering is another thing that might cause growth in your grass. During the winter, your lawn is dormant to protect itself from the cold. Watering the lawn can bring it out of its dormant state and expose it to the cold.
During the winter, water once every couple of weeks instead of on your regular schedule. If you start seeing footprints in your lawn, increase watering slightly.
4. Overseed
Even though grass in Miami usually stays green, overseeding is a good idea when wintering your lawn. Overseeding involves planting grass seed directly into the lawn without tearing up the turf or soil.
Overseeding can help fill in thin or bare patches, increase density, and enhance your lawn’s color. Try overseeding any time of the year for a full and beautiful lawn.
5. Use a Turf Colorant
During the colder winter months, as grass goes dormant, it sometimes loses its color. Don’t worry; your grass isn’t dying. Dormancy is a normal part of the winter season.
If your brown and yellow lawn is embarrassing and unsightly, you can use a turf colorant.
Turf colorants are safe and environmentally friendly. Your lawn only needs one winter treatment to cover blemishes and brown spots. One application will last two to three months.
Wintering Your Lawn
Lawn care doesn’t have to be a confusing battle. When it comes to wintering your lawn, follow these five steps. First, let the grass grow tall, stop fertilizing and watering, and then overseed. If your lawn naturally turns brown, consider a turf colorant.
Or let the professional and certified folks at One Two Tree give you the best lawn in the neighborhood. Give us a call today!
