How Texas Homeowners Can Prepare Their Lawns For The Winter
Most Texas lawns are planted with seed that is appropriate for warm seasons, so it is important to prepare your lawn for the low temperatures of winter. A healthy warm-season grass will usually go dormant in the winter, and turn green in early spring.
Here are a few of the most common questions people ask about their lawns as we approach winter:
When Should I Fertilize My Lawn?
Most fertilizers do well in early spring or even in summer, but we seldom recommend that you fertilize your lawn in the late fall. Grass should go dormant, and much of the benefit from fertilizer may be washed away by the time the growing season starts again.
When Should I Aerate My Lawn?
Texas lawns do well if they are aerated in the early spring when the lawn is actively growing. You can also aerate your lawn in the late summer (along with the final fertilization of the summer). Aerating your lawn will loosen up the soil, allow your lawn to breathe, and provide your lawn with the room and air required to grow.
Can I Plant A Winter Grass?
Many people like to plant a winter grass to help their lawn stay green year round. Usually the best seed for winter planting is ryegrass. It will green up in the fall, and will die in the spring, just when your warm-season grass takes over again.
How Should I Water My Grass During Winter?
Typically you can reduce watering to just a few minutes every 10 to 14 days. However, you may want to leave the water on for a few more minutes if you are going through an especially dry year. Be careful to not overwater. A dormant lawn needs only a fraction of the water required by an active lawn, and over watering can cause additional problems with fungus, pooling water, and wasted resources.
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