As the “cold” (yes, I put quotations around the word “cold”) months approach us in Central Florida, you may notice a change in the appearance of your lawn. Shorter days and cooler temperatures result in slower growth rates and discoloration. Many believe that your lawn does not require as much care in the winter as it does in the spring or summer. However, you don’t want to neglect your lawn completely. To keep your lawn healthy in colder weather, here are some tips.
Apply Fertilizer No Later than October
While grass in Central Florida grows efficiently during spring and summer, it tends to be challenging to maintain growth in the cooler months of winter. You may be inclined to apply one last round of fertilizer to your lawn, but fertilizer and cold weather don’t mix well. Applying fertilizer in the winter can actually cause damage to your lawn. This is why it’s best to apply your last round of fertilizer before October.
Overseed the Lawn
Want your lawn to look green and vibrant during the cooler months? Give overseeding a try! Overseeding is when you plant a temporary grass using seeds that provide winter-enduring grass. The temporary grass will give your lawn that full and vibrant look that you desire during winter, but will die off just in time to be replaced by warm weather grass. Ryegrass is widely used for overseeding lawns in Central Florida, as it’s affordable, reliable, and fast-growing.
Minimize Watering
Many lawns become victim to over-watering during the winter season. Over-watering will reduce your lawn’s ability to endure stress such as cold temperatures. According to the University of Florida IFAS Gardening Solutions, watering your lawn once a week or every other week should be sufficient to keep it healthy and green during the winter.
Maintain Landscaping Frequency
It’s completely acceptable to let your lawn grow longer during the winter season. Longer growth will protect the grass roots during cooler weather, as well as capture more moisture. However, it’s important to maintain your landscaping frequency. Mowing the grass is essential to keep your lawn healthy. During the cooler months, we suggest to cut your lawn at the highest recommended height for your grass type. If you cut too short, your lawn will be unable to recover from freeze damage.
Keep Your Lawn Healthy with RH Miller Pest Services, Inc.
All of us at RH Miller Pest Services take pride in making sure that you have the prevention you need. Servicing cities like Apopka in Central Florida for over 30 years, we have the expertise to get the results you desire! Bugs, Wildlife, or Lawn; we do it all. Find out why we have a 5-STAR rating on Google today! Give us a call at 407-339-7119.
