Your lawn has made it through the scorching months of another Florida summer. That’s good. But winter presents its own set of challenges.
Lawns up north spend much of the winter covered in snow and ice. That allows them to go dormant and rest for a season. In Florida, however, there’s no respite for your lawn. It can grow all year long. Because of that, you can’t just neglect lawn care from December to April and expect to enjoy a nice-looking yard come springtime.
Here are a few things to remember as you work to keep your winter lawn in top shape:
Your lawn needs water, albeit less than in the summer months. Plan on about 3/4 of an inch every seven to 10 days. If the rain is delivering that amount, you can obviously cut back.
Don’t forget to weed the yard. It’s easy to forget about this in winter, but weeds can still proliferate during this season. Ignoring them can mean an overrun lawn. Be on the lookout.
Cut your grass a little lower than you do in the summer. You’ll want to adjust the mowing height down just a bit. It’s important that air and sunshine reach the lower parts of the grass. Longer blades of grass create shade that can prevent that from happening. Of course, you mow less often during the winter, but be mindful of keeping a slightly shorter cut when you do.
Overseed your lawn. Ask your nursery for cold-weather grass seed (ryegrass is a popular and inexpensive option). Wait until the temperatures reach the low- to mid-70s. Overseeding will fill out your lawn and help protect it during the colder months. When cold-weather grass dies in the spring, it will make room for the summer grass.
Also, be sure to keep up your professional care during winter. Slug-A-Bug can handle all the complicated aspects of winter care and ensure a lush, green yard – now and during the warmer months. Call us at (321) 259-7844 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
For more information:
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/lawns/lawn-care/your-florida-lawn-in-winter.html
https://www.volusia.org/core/fileparse.php/4461/urlt/BG0115.pdf
https://www.gardenguides.com/122372-plant-ryegrass-florida.html