December 9th

By Mutt Mulligan

Winter lawn care tips for warm climates

Not all of us live in an area that experiences stereotypical winter weather. While people up North are shoveling snow, others in the South and West may still need to mow and water their living landscapes.

Here are a few tips for winter lawn care in warmer climates.

• Dormancy, demystified.
  Even in warm climates, grass and trees go into dormancy during the winter months. It’s a natural and healthy process for grass to go brown during the winter, so don’t worry! Your grass will green up again in the spring when rains return.
• Limit activity to limit damage.
  Dormant grass is weaker than active grass. Limiting your activity on the grass will help keep it in top shape when it comes out of hibernation in spring.
• Water wisely.
  Now is the time to cut back on your irrigation schedule. Dormant grass doesn’t need to be watered. Save the water for dry days in spring!
• Take care of trees.
  Trees also go into dormancy, slowing their growth in the winter months. But there are still a few things you need to do to ensure your trees survive till spring. Prune before the trees go dormant to encourage new growth in spring. Also, if you live in a dry climate, you will need to give your trees some moisture throughout the winter to help them survive.

To learn more about the many benefits of your living landscapes, go to LivingLandscapesMatter.com.