Tip of the Day: From Farmers Almanac - Warm-Season Grasses In some regions, grasses such as Bermuda, St. Augustine and zoysia slow their growth and enter dormancy during the winter. Winterizing the lawn in warm climates is not as necessary as it is in colder parts of the country, but there are still some steps you can take to keep your lawn in tip-top shape: • Do not use “winterizing” fertilizers. Like cool-season grasses, warm-season varieties need potassium, but it should be applied in the spring as part of a balanced nutrition program. (If a soil test shows that your lawn is deficient in potassium, amendments are acceptable). Fertilizing warm-season grasses when they are ready to go dormant is not recommended. To prepare the lawn for winter dormancy, stop fertilizing with high nitrogen fertilizers in late summer. • Keep your lawn tidy and healthy during the winter. Weed and remove or mulch fallen leaves as necessary. Amend your soil with lime if a soil test indicates that it is too acidic. • Green your lawn. Although your warm-season grasses will stop growing and may turn brown during winter, you can maintain lush green growth by seeding your lawn in autumn with cool-season grasses such as fescues.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 13:00:00 +0000