How to Keep Your Grass Green in the Winter

Co-authored by Rob Litman

Last Updated: February 10, 2021 References

Winter is a great time to go inside and snuggle up. Your lawns however do not have that luxury and will need a little extra love to keep the grass looking lush and green. It’s a good idea to plan ahead if you want your grass to stay healthy and there are a couple things you can do well before winter strikes that can help with that. Most of the battle is won in the lead up time to winter.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing Your Lawn Before Winter

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Rake and get rid of fallen leaves in preparation of seeding. Tree leaves can prevent light from accessing your grass and stop seeds from hitting the soil.^{[1]
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Research source} Additionally, raking will stir surface soil which is a useful way to support the roots of your grass.^{[2]
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Research source} Clearing your lawn is also going to help with weeding and mowing.
2
Remove weeds to avoid your grass getting killed. Weeds are relentless in their pursuit to grow so take them out as soon as you can. If you don’t then they’ll target your lawns and deprive your grass of nutrients. The damage will be worse in the winter time if it isn’t tended to.^{[3]
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3
Mow grass at a height that is slightly higher than normal. Raising your mowing height will concurrently give your grass deeper roots. Not only that but it will also insulate it. Don’t leave it too long though because in winter the grass can become matted.^{[4]
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Research source} About two thirds of your cutting height in opposition of the general half should do the trick.^{[5]
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4
Begin overseeding as early as autumn. No matter which hemisphere you’re stationed on, this is a period when conditions are ripe for germination due to cool air temperature and warm soil. Overseeding will allow more chances for the grass to grow without any negative ramifications. This also grants the seedlings plenty of time to develop.^{[6]
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- For best results, use a seed spreader. If you don’t own one you can rent one for the day at your local gardening shop.^{[7]
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- Winter rye is a good option that will help fill in gaps in your yard during the cooler weather.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Rob Litman
  Licensed Landscaper & General Contractor
  Expert Interview. 13 October 2020.}
- You could also use fine Fescue for shaded areas or tall Fescue is for areas susceptible to droughts,^{[9]
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5
Water your seedlings every day for up to 3 times a day. Germination can happen as early as 7 days into the process, but can sometimes take as long as 21. Stop watering the grass once it grows to one inch tall. After which you’ll only have to water the grass once a day.^{[10]
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Fertilize the grass early to provide nutrients for the winter. Do this a little bit before the winter season comes around in order to feed the roots.^{[11]
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Research source} If you live in a country that snows, it’ll strengthen the condition of your grass when the frost hits. If you don’t fertilize before the winter it will be too late.^{[12]
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- There are special winter fertilizers that are specifically designed for this exact scenario. Check with your local gardening shop to see what they have available.^{[13]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Taking Care of Your Grass During Winter

1
Refrain from mowing grass after it has rained. When it gets moist in the winter time, mowing will do more harm than good, especially if it has been snowing. Using a lawnmower on wet grass will damage the roots and can even kill it.^{[14]
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2
Restrict the amount of walking on your lawn to keep the grass healthy. Staying off the grass will give it a better opportunity to grow, especially in winter. Trampling over it in wet and cold conditions will severely reduce its survival rate so your grass should be treated tenderly.^{[15]
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3
Keep your lawn clear of objects and outdoor furniture. Leave heavy belongings such as lawn-chairs and children’s toys off the grass to prevent getting dead spots. Putting weight on grass that is already fragile due to winter conditions will turn it brown. Not only that, when spring time comes back around those particular dead spots won’t flourish.^{[16]
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- The dead grass attained by heavy objects can even cause it to become diseased which will lure in pests such as mice and insects.^{[17]
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4
Consider chipping away ice to give your grass more of a fighting chance. Your lawns can endure a lot of harsh weather conditions, especially if you’ve implemented the preliminary nurturing techniques in autumn, but manually removing deep shards of ice can help strengthen your lawn against the elements.^{[18]
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Are there any types of grass that won't turn yellow in winter?

Rob Litman
Licensed Landscaper & General Contractor
Rob Litman is a Landscaper, General Contractor, and the CEO of Vitoli Inc., a landscaping, hardscaping, ecoscaping, and swimming pool design company in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience in construction, Rob specializes in energy-efficient and drought-tolerant landscaping. He holds General Building Contractor (Class B) and Registered Pool/Spa Contractor Licenses. In 2007, Rob won House of the Year in Gardena, California.

Rob Litman

Licensed Landscaper & General Contractor

Expert Answer

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There's only one type of grass—called Marathon—that is green all year. However, you can also pick up a bag of winter rye and sprinkle the seeds over your lawn—it will keep your lawn green and fill in any gaps during the colder months, but it will disappear in about 6 months.