Winter Lawn Care Matters in South Florida
It’s not uncommon for many homeowners in South Florida – even those with lush and thriving summer lawns – to think that lawn care isn’t as needed in the winter. However, this kind of lawn care neglect in the winter only undermines the overall health and beauty of your lawn in the warmer months.
Although winters are relatively mild in Florida, they still represent a transitional phase for lawns and a time that can either stress or strengthen them for peak lawn season. Whether warm or cold, the climate in Florida influences lawn health and pest activity. Factors such as dormancy, watering, mowing, aeration and fertilization all contribute to the long-term health and vibrancy of a lawn. The most critical thing to remember is that good winter lawn practices = greener and lusher spring lawn growth.
Is My Lawn Dead or Dormant?
Just because your lawn has turned from a vibrant green to a duller brown color does not necessarily mean that your lawn is dead. Rather, this is often a common sign of lawn dormancy. You can think of it as a kind of “winter nap” for grass. Lawns that feature some grass types common to the warmer tropical climate, such as St. Augustine, Bermuda and Zoysia grasses, enter into periods of dormancy from December through February. This is a natural time of rest and conservation for the grass, before warmer temperatures return the grass back to a period of growth and greening.
If your lawn has a brown color but is still soft when you touch it, that’s typically indicative of dormancy. However, if the grass is gray-ish in color, and brittle to the touch – that could be a sign of a dead lawn. To prevent that, you’ll want to take some specific steps during colder winter months. We’ll cover the Top 7 Winter Lawn Care Tips for homeowners in South Florida.
Tip #1: Adjust Your Watering Frequency
When it’s hotter out, water evaporates faster and more water is needed to maintain healthy grass in your lawn. However, when temperatures drop, the pace of evaporation also slows. Homeowners trying to be proactive and water their lawns during the winter may not realize they could actually be overwatering if they water on the same frequency and amounts they do during spring and summer months. Overwatering can contribute to fungus, mold, and rot, which can be devastating to the roots of grass (and flowers!) in your yard. During the winter months, be sure to water your lawn on average about every 7-10 days – about once a week. Depending on the terrain and drainage, you can adjust accordingly. Faster draining soil or parts of lawns on slopes might require a little bit higher watering frequency, while slower draining soils or in natural valleys might require a lower frequency. When in doubt, consult local watering restrictions that might be in place or contact an expert residential winter lawn care company in South Florida.
Tip #2: Mow Less, with Higher Blade Height
In the summer months, the grass in your lawn grows quickly, so it needs to be mowed more often. Most homeowners prefer a slightly lower mow height or grass length, to maximize the aesthetic appeal of the lawn. During winter months, however, you should do the opposite. Mow less often than you would during spring and summer. Instead of 1-2X a week, you might mow 1-2X a month.
In addition, increase your usual mower blade height anywhere from ½ inch to a full inch in height. This will protect the vulnerable roots of the grass from stress such as cold snaps or general wear and tear. Finally, don’t wait until the next spring to sharpen your mower blades if they have become duller. A sharp mower blade in the winter is important to prevent tearing and pulling of the grass blades from the roots.
Tip #3: Choose a Winter-Suitable Fertilizer
While all commercially available lawn fertilizers have Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N-P-K) as core nutrients, their respective levels and ratios should not be the same year-round. Nitrogen, for example, is a primary driver of new plant growth. When nitrogen-rich fertilizers are applied during colder months, they inadvertently promote new grass blade growth, which exposes them to greater risk of cold damage. These nitrogen-heavy fertilizer mixes are best reserved for spring and summer time applications.
During the winter, a fertilizer with higher potassium levels is recommended, because potassium encourages strong root development and helps provide stronger resistance to disease. These are far more critical in the colder winter than new growth. When temperatures begin to routinely dip below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, switch up the type of fertilizer you apply to your lawn for a more potassium heavy mix. Apply the fertilizer before the average temperature dips into the low 60s to get the best results.
Tip #4: Overseed in Winter for Greener Springs and Summers
If you want that perfect lush and green lawn look early in the spring and summer, the time to start preparing is actually in the winter. Overseeding your lawn with grasses like ryegrass will help prevent erosion to the soil, suppress lawn pests like grubs and destructive beetles, and help retain a greener color throughout the year. The best time of year to overseed is from October through December.
After you’ve overseeded, don’t forget to water and mow the grass you’ve just planted however. Work within the watering and mowing frequencies we just discussed, but don’t overseed your lawn and then forget it until the spring. The benefits of overseeding require a little bit of maintenance before the spring, but are more than worth the investment.
Tip #5: Aerate Your Lawn Before Winter Fully Sets In
South Florida homeowners often understand that lawns require water and nutrients to feed and nourish the grass. Some often overlooked “ingredients” for lawns, however, are oxygen and carbon dioxide – elemental gases needed for overall health and growth. A well-aerated lawn helps air properly circulate down beneath the surface of the lawn and into the soil itself, where the roots can remain healthy and strong during the more stressful winter months. But soil also begins to harden up as the temperatures begin to drop, so there’s a sweet-spot for aeration. Aerate your lawn in the late fall, around October into November, after you’ve collected leaves and brush, but before the soil under the lawn hardens to a point that makes it difficult to penetrate and aerate.
Tip #6: Keep An Eye Out For Fungus, Rot & Winter Pests
Because it’s simply less hot out in the winter months, lawns in Florida tend to be damper in winter months, particularly after a more active hurricane season that runs through the end of November usually. Damper and cooler environments are more hospitable to mold, fungus, and rot, in addition to some lawn pests like chinch bugs.
Look for telltale patches of fungus or blight in your lawn as the temperatures drop more and more. If you’re unsure of what to look out for, you can always contact expert residential lawn care experts in South Florida who have experience in spotting and combatting fungus or other pests that thrive in damper and cooler environments.
Tip #7: Handle Common Winter Terrain Issues
Lawns are not always perfectly flat with excellent drainage. The natural terrain of some yards have slight hills and valleys, where water runs off to and pools. Some areas have more consistent drainage than others. As a result, yards can experience either some muddy areas or even standing water in spots. If your lawn routinely experiences these symptoms every winter, you might want to invest in French drains or other methods of natural drainage control. Dethatching the built up dead organic matter between the roots of the grass and its blades will also promote better drainage. Finally, a modest amount of sand topdressing will help thin out thatch levels and improve overall drainage capacity.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget Commercial Lawns, Either!
Much of the focus so far has been on the needs of residential lawns, but property managers and business owners should also be mindful of best practices for winter lawn care in Florida. Commercial lawns and shrubbery face most, if not all, of the same issues and pitfalls as residential lawns.
To maximize the curb appeal of your landscaping year round, pay particular attention to higher-traffic areas, turf edging, and watering and irrigation pathways. If you can’t maintain the commercial lawn and landscaping yourself, you should get in contact with an experienced and professional commercial lawn care company in South Florida.
If you’re a homeowner or business owner in South Florida that’s looking for an expert in both lawn care AND Integrated Pest Management, you should contact us here at Nozzle Nolen to schedule an initial inspection. Unlike some companies that specialize in one service or the other, we have a proven track record going back decades for both.
