Winterizing Your Lawn

Keeping your lawn in good condition throughout the winter months can be a challenge, even during the relatively mild weather we see here in South Florida. Many homeowners might find themselves under or over-watering their lawns, leading to an unappealing mess when the weather warms up again. It’s a tough balance to strike! With a specialized lawn care regimen and advice from a professional, though, winterizing your lawn gets much easier.

The lawn care pros at Hometown Pest Control are ready to help Florida homeowners build customized lawn and grass care services to keep their lawns beautiful and healthy all year round.

How to Keep Your Grass Green During Winter

First and foremost, we’ll talk briefly about a few things you can do to prepare your lawn for winter. Keeping up with care is especially important as the cold weather approaches!

• Consider aeration: Lawn aeration helps your lawn access more water and nutrients, helping it stock up for the winter. The process involves poking holes in the lawn thatch in certain areas.
• Choose a new grass type: Simply choosing a hardier type of grass, such as rye or bluegrass, can make a world of difference. These grasses are more comfortable in the winter lows of Florida. 
• Change your mowing habits: Keeping your grass a little longer than usual is an important part of winterizing your lawn, since it can help protect the roots from a freeze – but letting it get too long might invite pests to nest. 
• Change your watering schedule: Continue watering your lawn, but do it less often. It also helps to water early in the morning during cold weather; this makes it less likely that the water will freeze or evaporate away before the lawn can drink it up. If you have an irrigation system, make sure it’s working properly.
• Apply fertilizer: Giving your lawn some fertilizer before the cold weather starts will help it stay healthy throughout the winter. Well-fed grass has a much better chance of standing up to the cold. Stop the fertilizer around September, though; new growth is more susceptible to frost.
• Call a lawn pro! If you’re not sure what your lawn needs or how to get it done, never fear – the pros at Hometown Pest Control are here to lend a hand.

Lawn Watering in Winter

Cut back on watering your lawn during the winter, but keep it up. For most lawns in Florida, watering once a week is enough to keep it healthy – but always pay attention to its appearance. If it’s wilting or the color is fading, your lawn may need a little more water.

What Time of the Day Should You Water Your Lawn?

The early morning, before the sun comes up, is the best time to water your lawn. Since the sun hasn’t risen yet, the water won’t evaporate right away. Since the air is getting warmer, the water won’t freeze. This gives your lawn as much time as possible to absorb water for the day, without letting it stand long enough to feed any fungal growth that might be hidden out of sight.

Installing an irrigation system for your lawn takes all the guesswork out of watering – and doesn’t require you to switch up your sleep schedule just to water your lawn. An irrigation system will water on the schedule you set and you won’t have to worry about it at all.

Giving your lawn just the right amount of water throughout the winter months is the best way to ensure it stays healthy regardless of weather. An irrigation system helps minimize water waste and plant disease risk while maximizing your lawn’s health and beauty.

A Few Common Winter Lawn Problems in South Florida

It’s not just about watering and fertilizing; there are a few other things to keep in mind when prepping your lawn for the winter season. Keep an eye out for weeds, pests, and fungus while you’re watering your lawn. These unwanted guests can steal valuable nutrients from your lawn and simply make it look worse.

• Fire ant mounds. The lawn care team at Hometown Pest Control is equipped to provide pest control service as well! Fire ant mounds are a common sight in South Florida lawns, and our team can use insecticides to take them out. 
• Fungal disease. Fall and early winter are prime time for lawn diseases like brown patch fungus, a hardy fungus known to take over Florida lawns. Mindful watering is an important part of keeping this fungus at bay, but even the most careful homeowner may have to deal with it at some point or another. With professional help from the Hometown Pest Control team, you have the best possible chances of keeping your yard clear from this invader.
• Weed growth. Taking advantage of gaps in your lawn’s coverage, weeds can spring up wherever grass isn’t. If you’re dealing with weed growth, consider our weed control services! Your lawn may need reseeding and you may need to change up your lawn care regimen.

Turn to Hometown Pest Control for Winter Lawn Services

Even with Florida’s mild winters, local lawns need a little help to stay healthy through our coldest season. Don’t know the first thing about lawn care? That’s what Hometown Pest Control is here for. We’ll help you ensure your lawn is healthy and strong enough to make it through the winter and stay beautiful year-round.
Give us a call today to get started with an overwintering plan!