Winter has reached the Palmetto, FL area, and while it is not quite as cool as the rest of the country, we still feel the effects of the weather. Your lawn is one of the most affected areas when it comes to cold and freezing temperatures, impacting the state and health of your grass.
While Palmetto, FL lies in Central Florida, it is important to note the key differences in how your lawn is treated during the winter based on where you reside in Florida.
Warm Season Grasses & Winter Maintenance
The most popular type of grasses that you will find in Palmetto, FL and surrounding Central Florida areas are:
- Saint Augustine
- Bahia
- Centipede
- Zoysia
Caring for your lawn is always dependent on the type of grass you have in addition to the area you live in. We recommend the following for winterizing your lawn:
- Proper mow height
- Accurate amount of watering
- Proper amount of fertilization
Keep your lawn as healthy as possible during the winter months by following a loose, but consistent, mowing and irrigating schedule for your grass. Warm season grasses go into dormancy during the winter naturally, so you will notice that your lawn will tend to turn brown. By doing this, your lawn slows down its growth in preparation for the colder months.
During this month mowing your lawn will be reduced to once every other week. Keep your grass cut to a specific height of 3.5″ to 4″ for St. Augustine and Bahia grasses and 2″ to 2.5″ for Centipede and Zoysia grasses.
Irrigation in Central Florida should be limited to once per week. The reason we can water less is because there will be less evaporation due to the cooler temperatures. You still want to maintain the goal of 1 inch per week for a healthy lawn.
Fertilization is not recommended during the winter months. Fertilization during winter, especially after a freeze, can cause lasting damage to your lawn. Your final fertilization of the fall season should be done with higher amounts of potassium, which helps reduce stress to your lawn during cold temperatures.
Prepare your lawn for winter this year!
Follow these easy principles when it comes to preparing and maintaining your lawn throughout the winter months. For additional help or maintenance, contact us and we’ll help keep your lawn its healthiest year round.
