I'll admit it: my lawn care routine is pretty simple. As long as the lawn is green and mowed regularly, I'm generally satisfied. My lawn care budget usually consists of mower maintenance, gasoline, and the time required to keep the grass at a manageable height. That's not to say I don't appreciate a healthy, manicured lawn. I simply tend to devote more of my gardening time and resources to other projects.
Lawns can be as simple or as intensive as you choose to make them. Regardless of your approach, a few preventative measures taken this fall can help your lawn stay healthy through winter and reduce troublesome weeds next spring. Here are several steps homeowners can take now to prepare warm-season turfgrass lawns for the cooler months ahead.
Continue Mowing at the Proper Height
Turfgrass growth slows as nighttime temperatures decline, but lawns should still be maintained at the recommended mowing height for the specific grass species. Mowing too short or allowing the grass to become excessively tall between mowings can place unnecessary stress on the turf and reduce its overall health heading into winter.
Sidebar: Recommended Mowing Heights for Warm-Season Turfgrasses
Maintaining the proper mowing height improves root growth, drought tolerance, and overall lawn health.
Tip: Never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade during a single mowing. Scalping turf can weaken grass going into winter and encourage weed invasion.
Provide Supplemental Irrigation During Dry Weather
Lawns entering winter under drought stress are more susceptible to cold injury. As temperatures cool, turfgrass water requirements decrease to roughly half of what is needed during the heat of summer. In most cases, about one-half inch of water per week is sufficient during the fall if rainfall is lacking.
Choose Fertilizers Carefully
If you fertilize warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, or carpetgrass, avoid applying nitrogen late in the growing season. Nitrogen encourages tender new growth that is more vulnerable to frost injury and certain fungal diseases.
Potassium Applications May Be Beneficial
Potassium fertilizers are often marketed as "winterizer" products because they can improve stress tolerance. However, many lawn winterizers also contain nitrogen, so always read the fertilizer label carefully. A potash fertilizer with an analysis of 0-0-60 is a better choice for fall applications.
Apply 1 to 2 pounds of 0-0-60 potash per 1,000 square feet of lawn area during autumn. Potassium helps improve cold tolerance, strengthens plant tissues, encourages root development, and may increase the lawn's ability to withstand environmental stresses heading into winter.
Apply a Preemergence Herbicide to Prevent Winter Weeds
While cooler temperatures slow turfgrass growth, they also signal many winter annual weed seeds to begin germinating. Common weeds include annual bluegrass, chickweed, henbit, annual blue-eyed grass, annual ryegrass, and the dreaded lawn burweed, often known for its painful stickers in spring.
Look for a preemergence herbicide containing dithiopyr or prodiamine as the active ingredient. These products are commonly available in granular formulations and can be applied with a fertilizer spreader. For maximum effectiveness, water the product into the soil within 24 to 48 hours after application. In many cases, a second application made between Thanksgiving and mid-January can provide season-long weed suppression.
Keep Fallen Leaves Off the Lawn
Autumn leaves are a welcome sign of the season, but heavy accumulations can damage turfgrass. A thick layer of leaves blocks sunlight from reaching the grass, reducing photosynthesis and weakening the turf. Prolonged leaf cover can also create favorable conditions for disease development. Instead of allowing leaves to accumulate, rake them regularly and add them to a compost pile or use them as mulch in landscape beds and vegetable gardens.
A few simple lawn maintenance tasks completed this fall can help your warm-season turfgrass survive winter in better condition and provide a healthier, greener lawn when spring arrives. Many of these practices require little time or expense now but can reduce weed pressure, minimize winter injury, and promote a thicker, healthier lawn next spring.
