Time, Patience Best Rx for Cold Weather Lawn Care
January 21, 2011 - Have cold temperatures left your lawn looking brown and sad?
The good news is that turf varieties planted in Florida are among the best winter weather survivors, and what may look like grass on the way out is really just a beautiful lawn waiting for warmer spring days - if you follow these tips.
Homeowners and property owners who have seen their grass go from green to the color of straw may be asking:
• If it's brown or yellow, is it dead?
• When can I expect it to start looking greener?
• What can I do to help my lawn recover?
Members of the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative, experts in growing a variety of warm season turf grasses, have been helping their customers understand how best to care for their lawns for over 20 years.
“During periods of cooler than normal temperatures, especially if there’s frost or a freeze, most yards are brown with few signs of life,” said Eric Hjort, general manager of Tater Farms in Hastings. “This is a normal response, usually indicating that the lawn is dormant, not dead.”
He adds that while leaf blades may experience some damage, the stolons – the hard runners from which the leaf blades grow – and roots will remain healthy.
Warm season turf grasses such as St. Augustine, zoysia and centipede are generally very tolerant to the Florida climate, even the occasional frigid temperatures. “Dig down a little; if you see signs of green, your lawn should be fine,” Hjort says.
In the meantime, sod growers have three key winter weather lawn-care tips for homeowners:
- When it comes to dormant lawns, less is more. Cut back on irrigation so that the soil is moist but not saturated. “Overwatering could set the stage for problems later on, so be sure to adjust your irrigation system and water sparingly,” says FSGC executive director Betsy McGill.
- Wait to apply fertilizer until all danger of frost is past. Extra fertilization will not speed recovery and may encourage tender new growth which could be severely damaged by more cold weather.
- Take advantage of less frequent mowing needs. Use the time to have your mower serviced so it operates more efficiently and sharpen or replace your blades. It’s also a great time to adjust and upgrade irrigation systems.
Here are more tips from the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative for lawn care and answers to frequently asked questions:
Q. Winter is just starting. What can I do to prepare my lawn if cold temperatures return?
A: If a severe cold snap with freezing temperatures is predicted, irrigate just enough to moisten the soil without over-watering, always being mindful of your area’s watering restrictions.
Q. If it’s brown or yellow, is it dead?
A: Cooler temperatures will cause most turf types to go dormant, and the leaf blades will turn yellow or brown. This is a normal response and doesn’t necessarily mean your lawn is dead.
Generally, even in very cold conditions, the leaf blade will experience damage, but the stolons and roots will remain healthy.
Q. What kind of care should I give my lawn to help it recover? Will more water help?
A: For dormant lawns, less is more! Dormant lawns needs less water, making it an ideal time to cut back on irrigation and eliminate cycles, saving both water and money on your utility bills.
Q. What about fertilizer?
A: Depending on where you are located, the turf is in a dormant or semi-dormant state and simply can’t use large amounts of either water or fertilizer. The idea that extra fertilizer will speed recovery time is false. The extra attention you give the lawn could actually set it up for disease problems if over applied.
And even when the weather warms up, be patient. Fertilizing too early may also encourage new, tender growth that can be severely damaged by subsequent cold snaps. Wait until you see signs of re-growth and an overall change in color - a process called “greening up” – before applying fertilizer. Be sure to choose a fertilizer that’s appropriate for your type of grass and apply it correctly.
Q: Would it help to mow the lawn?
A: Dormant lawns need less mowing, as there is very little growth. Depending on the turf type, lowering the mowing height to remove brown leaves may encourage the production of young, tender leaf blades which would be susceptible to damage from subsequent cold weather events.
Q: When can I expect my lawn to start looking green again?
Depending on the weather and where you live, your lawn can begin to show signs of spring green up as early as March for South Florida to mid- to late April in more northern counties. It may take as long as three to four weeks for your lawn to look uniformly green.
As the warmer temperatures return and there are still spots in your lawn that look dead, you may have experienced some root death, referred to as “winter kill”.
Homeowners and turf managers can tell if a grass will recover by looking closely at the hard runners from which the blades grow. If these are still green, the grass will likely recover; if they are brown or black, it will not.
Areas of winter kills are usually small, and a lawn can often recover on its own. Larger areas that remain brown without signs of new growth by late spring may need to be replaced.
Fall and Winter Sodding in Florida
"Is it okay to replace my lawn right now?"
December 3, 2010 - As Floridians enjoy the balmy days and comfortable nights of fall and early winter, many homeowners have asked: Is it smart to renovate or replace the lawn this time of year?
Florida’s sod growers have advised our customers for years that the fall months through December are actually a great time for planting turf in central and south Florida as long as the state's usual mild temperatures continue.
Here’s why:
Turf can establish well in the fall and early winter when temperatures throughout Florida are generally cooler. Your new lawn needs less water when compared to the often-blistering temperatures of July and August and is less likely to suffer from fungus and other diseases that can be problematic during hot, humid summer months.
Last year’s unusually cold and wet winter was tough on landscapes. It’s also been an especially active year for chinch bugs, so many homeowners are eager to replace worn areas to make the lawn attractive and usable, as well as to protect the soil and their property values
"I don't think there's a 'wrong time' for planting sod in Florida," said Keith Truenow, owner of Lake Jem Farms in Mt. Dora (just north of Orlando).
"There are some common sense exceptions - when a freeze is expected, or when prolonged cold temperatures are in the forecast - but otherwise, turf can be installed nearly year round in most parts of the state," Truenow explained.
If you’re replacing a lawn, follow these tips:
Evaluate your site conditions, including soil type, shade, how the area will be used and whether you plan to irrigate. For example, while some turf types will do fine in limited shade, areas that have deep shade for four or more hours a day are better suited to other plant materials.
Diagnose and correct any existing problems that may have caused the current lawn to fail (like chinch bugs or poor drainage) and treat the problem before you install new sod.
Choose the turf type that best fits your landscape conditions, your lifestyle, and your expectations. Most growers and sod services are happy to help you decide.
If you’re installing your new lawn yourself, do it promptly. The longer sod sits on a pallet, the more likely it is to be damaged.
Care for your lawn responsibly. Keep new sod moist, but not wet, until it roots – and don’t fertilize immediately. Once the turf is established, turn off your irrigation system during the winter months and water only as needed.
Sodded lawns can be established nearly year round in most areas of the state.
So in case you’re wondering, there’s no need to wait until spring – a new lawn can be the perfect Christmas gift!