Caring for a Warm Season Lawn
in the Winter

When warm season grass, like Bermuda and zoysia, is dormant, it is not dead. Retired UT Extension Agent Booker T. Leigh says there are several things you should do during the winter to keep your grass healthy and get it ready for spring. One of the most important is to try to prevent standing water. In the wetter winter this may cause root rot which will reduce the vigor or even kill your grass. Winter is a good time to take a soil test so you know what fertilizer your lawn needs in the spring. Applying nitrogen fertilizer in the winter is not necessary, but it is a good time to lime your lawn. Also, if it is dry for an extended time, you should water.

Related Videos:
​Warm Season Turf Varieties
Soil Testing
Liming a Lawn

Related Resources:
Soil Testing
Liming Your Lawn
Fertilization and Management of Home Lawns