Dormant Winter Lawns

Published: February 09, 2017

How to Care for Dormant Winter Lawns

Right now your lawn may look dull, brown, and lifeless, but don’t fret. It’s not dead - just sleeping. Like bears, lawns hibernate or go dormant in the winter to protect themselves from harsh colder temperatures. In the spring, when the weather warms up again, the lawn will return to its natural green hue. While in its dormant state, the lawn requires less attention, but still needs maintenance.

WATERING

Water only when needed unless the lawn has been over seeded (mixed with a cool season grass to ensure that it stays green during the winter). Turn off sprinklers until spring returns and conserve water. As long as there is adequate rain at least once every two weeks, you should not have to water at all.

MOWING

Mowing will not be necessary unless the grass has been over seeded, but edging may be needed.

FERTILIZING

Save money and time by not fertilizing unless the lawn has been over seeded. Dormant lawns are unable to ingest the fertilizer.

WEEDING

Unfortunately, winter does not signal the end of weeds. In fact, new weeds may appear during the winter that require a change in treatment methods. Consult a lawn care provider or someone familiar with weed prevention to see which products work best for your lawn. Be sure to pull all new weeds that emerge. Just be careful to avoid excessive treading on the lawn while it’s dormant. Heavy treading can create ugly bare spots.

Hulen Stone Crossing Homeowners Association