How Does Cold Weather Affect Your Lawn? (2024)

FAQs

How Does Cold Weather Affect Your Lawn? ›

Minor Desiccation

Depending on the climate where you live and the species of your grass, the growth of your grass will either significantly slow down or go into dormancy during the cold winter months. You should never mow your lawn when temperatures are below freezing point or consistently below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ideal grass height for winter is between 2 inches and 2.5 inches. This keeps grass short enough to resist disease spread, but not so short that it becomes overly stressed by cold temperatures.

Grass generally stops growing once temperatures drop to below the range of 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit or reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Since soil takes longer than air to lose and retain heat, it will take a period of a least a few days for a temperature change to impact the growth of grass.

The colder weather does not evaporate moisture from the lawn as quickly as it does in the warmer weather. Most lawn experts recommend watering your grass until the soil or ground temperature reaches the 40-degree Fahrenheit mark. It is true, less water is required and needed when the temperature drops.

After you have aerated, make sure to spread a winter fertilizer around the yard. Fertilizing in the winter helps grass store the nutrients it needs to grow back healthy in the spring. Winter fertilization is an important part of keeping your yard healthy through the cold season.

Never mow grass which is wet or frosty, as this can compact the soil and harm your turf. Wait until after the lawn has dried to perform mowing.

However, if the weather gets cold enough, your grass will stop growing and will enter a state known as dormancy. When does grass stop growing? This usually happens when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frost—Following a few hard frosts, warm-season grasses go dormant. Depending on soil temperature, cool-season grasses can keep growing and may still need mowing. Never mow a lawn when it's covered in frost, though. It's best to stay off frosty grass to protect turf crowns.

Should you leave grass clippings on lawn over winter? ›

In most cases, the answer is easy. Recycle the grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn. Doing so will not only save you time and energy, but will also return valuable nutrients to the lawn.

Life Expectancy of Grass

All grass differs in terms of how long it will last. However, with the right care, your grass can last you years. Typically, the lifespan of your grass is about 7-10 years.

As a general rule of thumb, soil temperature between 55-60 degrees, spring weather conditions and recent grass growth are signals to know when to mow your grass. Daily: The best time of day to mow your grass is either in the morning or late afternoon.

Daytime temperatures around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit typically mean the soil temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees and perfect for seed germination. If the soil temperature is much lower than 50 degrees, however, the seeds will lay dormant and not germinate.

Plant growth slows when the soil temperature drops below 40 degrees F, which means turfgrass plants will likely not be able to effectively utilize nutrients applied through fertilizer applications.

If you're wondering how cold is too cold for grass seed germination use our rule of thumb and check the weather reports. If the daytime temperature is below 60^°F then soil temperature is below 50^°F, making it too cold; if there is frost or still a danger of frost, then it's too cold.

Water the turf before it freezes: If there is plenty of water in the land, evaporation will generate enough heat to keep the grass from freezing. Deep watering in the evening can allow moisture to release overnight.

Specifically formulated for late fall or early winter application, winterizer fertilizers often have a higher potassium content. This promotes root growth and helps the grass endure winter stress. Look for formulations with a ratio like 10-0-20 or similar, indicating a higher percentage of potassium.

If the soil temperature is much lower than 50 degrees, however, the seeds will lay dormant and not germinate.