How to Keep Grass Green in the Winter
Winter time is usually when grass slows in its growing process and goes dormant until the next spring. You can sow some grasses, however, that stay green in the winter months and continue to grow. These grasses, along with certain nutrients and other methods, help to keep your lawn green throughout the winter months.
Mow the yard less often. The grass will not grow as quickly in the fall and winter, and mowing too often might add stress. Keep it slightly shorter than you did during the summer months. In the winter, the soil won't dry out as quickly on the surface, which could result in mold. Keeping it shorter will expose more of it to light and keep mold at bay.
- Winter time is usually when grass slows in its growing process and goes dormant until the next spring.
- You can sow some grasses, however, that stay green in the winter months and continue to grow.
Overseed the lawn with a grass such as rye that stays green in cooler weather. This will keep the yard looking green through the cooler months.
Apply a fall and winter fertilizer to keep your lawn healthy and green. Adding nutrients back into the soil helps your lawn retain its green color.
Add a sprinkling of nitrogen to the lawn if you are not adding a fertilizer. Nitrogen increases the green color of plants.
Winter Grass Care
It's tempting to neglect watering a lawn during rainy winters, but a week without rainfall can cause green grass to begin browning. Typically, grass should receive 1 to 2 inches of water each week. When it rains, you can skip the weekly watering, but you'll need to water deeply on dry weeks. Apply nitrogen fertilizer about once a month to every other month in the late fall and winter to prevent the warm-season grass from browning as nitrogen is the nutrient responsible for green growth. When you mow, remove one third of the leaf at a time, to avoid removing the majority of the grass's food-producing parts. Aerate the soil before the first frost on a cool day when the lawn is damp from recent watering.
- Overseed the lawn with a grass such as rye that stays green in cooler weather.
Related Articles
References
- Eartheasy: Natural Lawn Care
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Practical Lawn Fertilization
- Purdue University: Nitrogen and Phosphorus: Fertilizing Lawns to Protect Water Quality
- Texas A&M University: Winter Lawn Care
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: How Much, When, and How Often to Mow
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Seasonal Growth Pattern of Grasses
- Sunset: Tune up Your Turf
Writer Bio
Tara Dooley has written for various websites since 2008. She has worked as an accountant, after-school director and retail manager in various locations. Dooley holds a Bachelor of Science in business management and finance.
