Below you can find some helpful tips from Quality Landscaping LLC on managing your lawn during this dormant time of the year for the Middle Georgia Area! Remember, just because your lawn is not growing as fast as in the growing season there is still necessary action that needs to be taken to set yourself up for success for the upcoming season!
Noticing weeds in your lawn this time of year? While weeds do have a lifecycle and seeds do germinate at certain times of the year, you can count on them not going dormant! Now is NOT the time to fertilize ANY warm-season lawn. Do not ”winterize your lawn’ by buying items from big box stores that could possibly do damage to your lawn during this sensitive time of year. If you are not already on a property application schedule with us please inquire about a free estimate by clicking here for a free quote. Remember, we have some very important applications happening at this time of the year to help ensure a successful weed control program. We do service all of Macon, Kathleen, Warner Robins, Centerville, Byron, Bonaire & Perry along with Forsyth!
It’s very important to ensure you keep cutting your grass! If we are servicing your property please do not scale back on services just yet. You want the height of your grass to be kept the same during the dormant time. While the grass is going dormant it is still growing just at a very slow rate. Another VERY important aspect of continuing your service with us through the off season is leaf management. Excess or standing leaves WILL cause fungal issues with your turf.
Keep watering and irrigating! Perhaps the most IMPORTANT reason to irrigate during dormancy is to protect root structures from drying out and dying as a result of cold weather. Keeping soil moist will help buffer roots from potential cold damage because water is excellent at storing heat and releasing it when it gets cold. Decreasing irrigation to temperate landscape plants may actually cause more harm than good. The lack of water induces a drought stress on these plants, inhibiting their ability to undergo the biochemical and physiological changes needed to obtain maximal cold hardiness.
Furthermore, the early leaf senescence induced by lack of water means the plant has fewer stored resources to put into next year’s growth. The overall result will be a stunted, stress-sensitive plant. Damage also can occur below ground with reduced water. Fine roots die, decreasing the ability of the plant to take up water and nutrients. Decomposition slows, and soil organisms die or move elsewhere. When dry soil freezes, it has less insulative ability than moist soil, causing the freezing and damage or death of smaller roots. Roots of landscape trees and shrubs never go dormant! Their resistance to cold damage is much reduced compared to the above ground parts of the plant. By the way, we do offer full irrigation assessments and adjustments along with repairs of existing systems!
If you happen to have questions about ANY of the above, your account and current or new services we are a phone call or click away! Be sure to connect with us on our social accounts such as Facebook and Instagram if you haven’t already!
