Caring for Your Lawn in Winter

How you care for your lawn changes in the colder months. During winter, warm-season grasses such as our beloved DNA Certified Sir Walter Turf go into a state of semi-hibernation. In this state, growth will be slower, as will its ability to repair damage and your lawn will lose some of its colour. It’s important to alter your maintenance practices to cater to these changes.

Mowing

Your mowing will be less frequent. Any mowing you do will just be to keep your lawn looking neat and well-maintained. However, don’t forget the 1/3 rule. Only take off a maximum of 1/3 of the total leaf height at a time. You’ll avoid the risk of scalping your lawn, which would be disastrous during winter. It is still important to mow (less frequently) during through the colder months as this will keep the thatch layer in check.

Fertilising

Consider a pick-me-up fertiliser in the middle of winter. Your lawn won’t spring to life, but this will help it be more resilient through the rest of winter. However, there isn’t much point in fertilising too often in winter, your lawn won’t absorb the nutrients and they will just be washed away in the rain. You could also look at using Colourguard which will instantly restore colour to your lawn by reintroducing green pigment.

Try to also tend to any weeds that pop up through winter, reducing the stress on your lawn. By adjusting these practices you’ll help your lawn through this challenging time and it’ll bounce right back when spring arrives.