True or False. Do you really need winter lawn care in Florida? When you think of the Florida sunshine and blue skies, your answer might be no. But, you’d be wrong. Even though Florida generally has mild temperatures all year, you still need to prepare your lawn for winter.
Florida turf naturally goes dormant in the winter, decreasing the growth rate of the turf. Taking steps to winterize your lawn keeps it healthy in cold conditions. Use these tips to protect your lawn this winter.
- Mow your lawn to the proper height. Leave your grass taller than you do in the summer months. Taller grass protects the roots from the cold weather.
- During the winter, your lawn doesn’t need as much water because the growth of your grass has stopped. Schedule irrigation every 1 to 2 weeks. Watch out for footprints in the grass. If you see footprints after it’s walked on, you have a thirsty lawn.
- It’s not recommended to fertilize your lawn after September in North Florida and October in Central Florida. Fertilizing too late can cause your grass to grow during the cold weather, making it cold sensitive.
- Keep your lawn looking green during the winter by over-seeding it. The best areas for over-seeding are North and Central Florida. South Florida lawns typically stay green year-round.
- Use turf colorants as an alternative way to keep your lawn green in the winter. Turf colorants are formulated to be safe for the grass and the environment.
Trying to figure out if you need to winterize your irrigation system or how to do it? Challenger Irrigation is at your service. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our irrigation specialists today.
