How to Take Care of Your Lawn in Winter

During the winter season, it’s crucial to adjust your lawn care techniques to help your lawn endure colder weather and thrive in spring. Taking proactive steps to prepare your lawn will ensure that the changing weather doesn’t negatively impact its health and appearance. Keep in mind, lawn maintenance isn’t always about how to make it pretty. Here are some tips for winter maintenance:

• Irrigate before freezing temperatures begin. This ensures there is proper moisture in the soil root zone. However, make sure irrigation is stopped early enough to allow time for leaves to dry to avoid ice forming on them. Avoid irrigating during freezing temperatures because this practice can prolong the amount of time that plants are subjected to harsh, cold temperatures.
• Cover cold-sensitive plants with blankets or boxes but not plastic. Be sure to remove the covering as soon as the temperatures begin to warm up.
• Do not mow turf that is frozen and keep the lawn mowed high. This can reduce cold injury to the lawn in a number of ways, including promoting a deeper root system, which will provide greater stress tolerance and creating a warmer micro-environment due to the extra canopy cover provided by the longer leaf tissue.
• Avoid foot traffic or vehicular traffic on frozen turf. This can increase damage to the lawn.

Spring will be here before we know it and these tips will help your lawn thrive. If you’re uncertain about the best way to prepare your lawn, consider reaching out to a lawn care and irrigation expert for a professional inspection and effective treatment.

Adam Jones is Massey Services’ vice president and director of quality assurance. Orlando Magazine readers voted Massey Services the top pest-control company in Orlando in our 2025 Home Design Awards.