Don't Skip These 5 Winter Lawn Maintenance Tips

As January ushers in the height of cold temperatures across Florida, even South Florida residents are feeling the chill, with nighttime temperatures dipping into 40°F. In the northern parts of the state, Arctic cold snaps have brought frost and freezing conditions. While Florida’s winters are typically mild, this year’s colder-than-usual weather highlights how diverse the weather can be.

With the growing season set to kick off in late March, as the Florida Climate Center noted, the perfect time to focus on winter lawn care. Completing essential maintenance tasks during the colder months will set your grass up for success when temperatures rise again. For anyone looking to elevate their lawns, Bethel Farms offers high-quality grass for sale, including varieties specifically bred for resilience and adaptability, ensuring a vibrant and healthy lawn come spring.

5 Essential Winter Lawn Care Tips to Do Now

With the unpredictable weather this winter, lawn care may not be at the top of your to-do list. However, grass maintenance during winter is essential for a beautiful lawn year-round. The grass is incredibly resilient, and with proper care, it will bounce back, lush and green, in time for spring.

1. Protect Your Lawn During the Final Stretch of the Cold Weather

While cooler weather may signal a break from intensive lawn care, it’s important not to neglect your grass during the winter months. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine typically go dormant when soil temperatures dip below 55°F. During this dormant phase, growth slows, and the grass becomes more susceptible to foot traffic and soil compaction damage.

Avoid excessive traffic by creating designated pathways or limiting activity on the grass to protect your lawn. Soil compaction caused by heavy foot traffic can damage the grass roots, delaying spring recovery and growth.

2. Clean Up and Rejuvenate Your Lawn

A lawn covered in debris, such as leaves or dead grass, can hinder its recovery in the spring. Clearing this debris improves airflow around the grass blades and prevents fungal growth caused by trapped moisture. Use a leaf rake to remove debris and break up any matted grass gently.

By keeping your lawn clean, you create an environment that supports healthy growth when the growing season begins.

3. Aerate Your Lawn for Healthier Growth

Aerating your lawn is a highly effective way to prepare it for spring. Dormant grass is particularly vulnerable to compacted soil, which restricts airflow, water penetration, and nutrient absorption. Using a core aerator to remove small plugs of soil is more effective than spike aeration, as it creates space for the roots to expand and thrive.

This practice improves the lawn's access to essential resources, helping it bounce back stronger when warmer weather arrives. For a lush, healthy lawn, plan to aerate your lawn in late winter or early spring, just before the grass begins actively growing again.

4. Fertilize for a Strong Spring Comeback

While fertilizer isn’t necessary during the coldest months, it can give your grass a boost as temperatures warm up. Once soil temperatures consistently reach 55°F, apply a high-quality, slow-release fertilizer to replenish essential nutrients. Fertilizing after aerating allows nutrients to penetrate deeply into the soil, strengthening the roots.

This early-season feeding helps your lawn recover from winter stress and encourages healthy and vigorous growth.

5. Install New Sod for a Fresh Start

If your lawn has suffered significant damage from the winter winds, or you want to switch to a more climate-adapted variety, winter is an excellent time for sod installation. The cooler temperatures of the season allow newly laid sod to establish roots without the added stress of summer heat.

Consider choosing warm-season grasses like bermuda, zoysia, or St. Augustine for their durability and adaptability to the Florida climate. For example, Bimini Bermudagrass offers superior drought tolerance, traffic resilience, and early spring green-up, making it an excellent choice for homeowners seeking high-quality turf. Sod installation during the winter months facilitates faster coverage, so your lawn is ready to thrive in spring.

Caring for Your New Sod

Proper post-installation care is essential for the success of new sod. Water the sod immediately after installation and continue watering daily for the first two weeks. Apply about 1 inch of water per day to keep the soil beneath the sod consistently moist but not overly saturated.

Before mowing, check that the sod has firmly rooted into the soil by gently tugging on a section. Typically, this occurs within two weeks. When it’s time to mow, use a lawn mower with sharp blades to avoid tearing the grass. Don't let the grass grow too tall before mowing, as this can strain the roots and make maintenance more difficult.

Get a Head Start for Spring with Bethel Farms Sod

Winter lawn care is critical in transforming your outdoor space into a vibrant, healthy lawn come spring. Protecting dormant grass, maintaining a clean lawn, aerating compacted soil, and applying fertilizer at the right time can give your lawn the boost it needs to recover from the cold season.

For homeowners in Central Florida, Bethel Farms is a trusted sod supplier offering a wide range of warm-season grasses, including the proprietary Bimini Bermudagrass. Initially bred for golf courses due to its exceptional traffic resilience and drought tolerance, Bimini is now available for residential use, providing homeowners with a climate-adapted, high-quality option for their lawns.

Take the time now to invest in your lawn’s health, and you’ll enjoy the rewards of a lush, green landscape that thrives throughout the year.