Winter Lawn Care Tips in Summerfield, FL; How to Winterize St Augustine Grass & More

There are plants in Florida that grow all year and while there are some freezes, it’s not likely that the grass will be covered in snow. But just because winters don’t get extremely cold in Florida doesn’t mean you can forget about your lawn till spring!

Why Does Grass Turn Brown in Winter?

If happens because your lawn goes into shock from the infrequent cold weather. In Florida, grass will naturally go dormant in the winter and growth will start to slow down. To make sure it comes back nicely in the spring there are steps you can take through the winter months. Taking these steps will also help prevent damage and disease and help it come back faster in the spring. In Central Florida, lawns will become dormant and turn brown. In South Florida, it may stay green, but will not grow as quickly as it did in warmer weather. Lawn winterization is important to help grass through the colder months; allowing it to get to spring without damage or disease. A dormant lawn will not grow as quickly and will not be as green. Therefore, it needs less mowing and less watering.

How to Winterize St Augustine Grass & Other Types

Mow it to the proper height. It is very important to mow your lawn the right way all year round to keep it healthy. It may be even more important in the winter months. It should be left taller than you would keep it in the summer to protect the roots from cold temperatures. Saint Augustine or Bahia grass should be mowed to 3 ½ to 4 inches, while other grasses should be left at 2 to 2 ½ inches.
Water grass less in winter. You will not need to water in the winter as much as you did in the summer months because it’s not growing s as quickly. There is also less evaporation of water in the winter requiring less water. You can water it every 1-2 weeks. You will now if it needs more if you can see your footprints when you walk across it.
Tips to fertilize lawn. Lawns in North and Central Florida don’t really need to be fertilized in the winter. If you do want to fertilize, make sure you use one that is low in nitrogen and high in potassium to give your lawn a kick start in the spring.

Lawn Care & More

After the extreme cold temperatures are over and it starts to get warm you may think your lawn is dead. Even though it looks dead, it’s not and don’t think you need to fertilize it. If you do this after a freeze period, you may damage it instead of making it better. The warmer temperatures will slowly coax your grass roots into activation. As soon as your lawn starts to grow, your lawn will get back to normal right before your eyes. Take steps to winterize your lawn so it will come back lush and green and free of pests. Contact Pest 911 for a consultation or if you want to know what we can do for you lawn during the winter months. Give us a call today!