Getting your lawn ready and caring for your landscape through the winter season.

There are steps you should take to help your lawn survive our winter season here in South Carolina. From fertilizer to weed prevention, the fall transition is still a busy time for your landscape. Once the winter season kicks in to gear, there is still work to be done. For those of you interested in winter rye, you need to be preparing your lawn for the overseeding process now. We will discuss some tips and advice to help you care for your landscape during the colder months.

1. Fertilizer requirements for fall transition

2. Soil testing and analysis

3. Pre-Emergent weed control application process and Poa Annua

4. Irrigation tips

5. Leaves and mowing height

6. Winter schedule for landscape issues

7. Winter rye

Fertilizer

Depending on your grass type there is still some fertilizer that is needed. Keep in mind that our weather may stay warm longer than normal and this can stretch the fertilizer season. Let’s talk about our program here at Cold Creek and the dates involved with the fertilizer applications. We will use our standard fertilizer blends as examples.

Centipede – Spring: late April/early May 14-7-7 blend

Summer: July Iron blend

Fall: late August/September Potassium

St Augustine- Spring: late April/early May 25-5-11 blend

Summer: July 25-5-11 blend

Late Summer: August Iron blend

Fall: September Potassium

Bermuda/Zoysia- Spring: late March/early April 25-5-11 blend

Late Spring: May 25-5-11 blend

Summer: June 25-5-11 blend

Summer: July/August 25-5-11 blend

Fall: September Potassium

There are a lot of different aspects to fertilization, but for our discussion today we will focus on the Fall/Potassium application. We refer to this application as our “winterizer”. Potassium is for helping root strengthening and development. The root systems stay active after the rest of the plant goes dormant and will still take in nutrients. You can even apply potassium up until Christmas.

Soil Testing

Approximately 30 days after your Potassium application you need to do a soil analysis of your lawn. We include it as part of our standard program here at Cold Creek.

This is very similar to having blood work done at your doctor’s office as part of a yearly check-up. There is a lot of useful information that will help you plan for the following growing season. Winter is the perfect time to adjust your soil pH with either lime or sulfur applications. Certain other deficiencies in nutrients can be addressed during the winter months as well.

Your soil test results will help determine what fertilizer blends you may need for the next growing season. There are different blends of fertilizer available to help with N-P-K deficiencies and excesses. You can also test for organic matter percentages and check to see if a compost-based application will help.

Weed Management

Weed management is a year-round activity. Just because it is cold outside, and your lawn is dormant does not mean you can stop with the weed management applications.

Our lawn spray program for example-

Round 1 Winter Pre and Post Emergent Herbicide

Round 2 Early Spring Pre and Post Emergent Herbicide

Round 3 Summer Post Emergent Herbicide

Round 4 Early Fall Pre and Post Emergent Herbicide

Round 5 Early Winter Pre and Post Emergent Herbicide

Timing is essential for the performance of a pre-emergent herbicide effectiveness.

The pre-emergent barrier can be affected by soil composition and water, so a split application will provide extended protection throughout a season. Use a post emergent herbicide to kill the weeds that break through the barrier.

Some facts about Poa Annua-

1 individual plant can produce over 360 viable seeds in a short time.
The seed may lie dormant in the soil for years before germinating.
Germinates when soil temperatures drop below 70 degrees.
Loves moist, compacted soils.
Tolerates shade very well.
Has been found to develop resistance to some herbicides.

Pre-Emergent herbicide treatment for Poa Annua should start in early Fall with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later for extended control. When the ground temperatures begin to rise back up in spring, there will be a second germination season. Post emergent herbicides must be applied carefully.

Irrigation

As your lawn transitions into dormancy, less water is required. Sometimes you can even shut it completely off depending on rainfall.

Bermuda Grass going dormant — Bermuda going dormant.

No irrigation is needed during this period.

Zoysia will go dormant in patches.

No irrigation is needed during this period.

Leaves

I will be the first one to agree that there is nothing I would rather do than watch some college football on a Saturday and then spend a relaxing Sunday exploring our lovely state parks, maybe even do a little fall fishing! Who wants to spend your weekend raking up leaves? Well…..

Not picking up those leaves can do some serious damage. Also, DO NOT MULCH LEAVES!!!Mulching leaves can build up a very thick layer of thatch that can cause many problems during the spring transition.

Mow Height

You can allow your grass to get a little taller than normal during the fall to add a layer of protection for the winter. Like a warm and toasty blanket for your lawn to curl up in!

Not all grasses go completely dormant during the winter in our area. Just because it is winter does not mean you may not have to mow your lawn. Cut your lawn at least once a month during the winter with minimal cuttings. A light trimming to keep the lawn even and cut any weeds that might be popping up. Always bag your clippings during this period. Pay close attention to weeds starting in your shrub beds and kill them as soon as possible. They will spread to your lawn.

Fall and Winter Schedule for Your Landscape

Consider the following activities for winter landscape needs –

1. Severe pruning: February to June Most broadleaf shrubs

Exceptions – Loropetalum and Pittosporum April to June

Hydrangeas August

Roses January

Ornamental Grasses January

2. Regular/Light shrub trimming: Anytime

Exceptions - Azaleas

Camelias Not between end of August and next bloom

3. Tree Pruning-

Affecting less than 20% of canopy: Anytime

Affecting more than 20% of canopy: October to March

4. New Plantings - September and October are the best

5. Landscape cleanup - Winter is best

6. Mulching/Pine Straw - After leaf drop season

Winter Rye

Overseeding with perennial rye will produce a green lawn through the typical dormant season. This process requires multiple steps to prepare your lawn for the application that must be started by September. Generally, the overseeding is done in late September/early October depending on the weather. This service is highly recommended for Bermuda lawns only.

There are problems with doing this on your lawn. You should start to kill the rye prior to spring transition for the Bermuda stay healthy. Also, weed problems will persist due to lack of pre-emergent herbicide applications during the winter and spring. You will also have to mow throughout the winter season on a regular basis and fertilization will be periodically needed. It is very nice to have a green lawn when all the others are brown and dead looking; however, it requires a year-round approach to lawn maintenance.

Fall and winter have just as much work to do in your landscape as spring and summer. Caring for your lawn is a year- round job! Cold Creek is always ready to help!

We offer the following services through our Lawn and Shrub Care Program

Lawn Weed and Insect Management Spray
Lawn Fertilization
Lawn Disease Management Spray
Growth Regulator Spray
Mole Cricket Management
Shrub Disease and Insect Management Spray
Shrub Fertilization
Core Aeration
Soil Testing and Analysis

Thank you,

Chris Clement

chris.clement@coldcreek.net

Preparing Your Landscape for Winter