How to Keep Grass Green in Winter

Hourglass sitting on snow-covered winter grass.

Proper TLC is all your grass needs to stay healthy and green. Keep grass green in the winter by winterizing it in the fall and keeping it clean year-round. Also, follow mowing, watering, and weeding best practices.

With the help of top turf experts, we share fall and winter lawn care tips. Healthy grass defies harsh conditions, keeping it green and lush. However, warm-season grass may need a topcoat of turf paint to look green through dormancy. 

Winterize in the Fall

United States map showing the cool season grass, warm season grass and the transition zones
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez

Fall folly can lower your lawn’s ability to withstand winter. Lawn winterization keeps your grass green by fortifying its defenses. 

Winterizing Warm-Season Grass

We asked the south’s top turf specialists about winterizing southern lawns. UGA’s Dr. Clint Waltz warns against giving warm-season grasses fall nitrogen. However, he recommends a soil test to determine if your lawn needs potassium, phosphorus, or lime. Dr. Becky Bowling of the University of Tennessee also urges homeowners to test fall soil

Professor Gerald Evers of Texas A&M University says overseeding with cool-season perennial grasses in the fall helps warm-season lawns stay greener in the winter. 

Winterizing Cool-Season Grass

In the fall, test the soil and ensure cool-season grasses have a healthy helping of nitrogen. Consider dormant seeding for a lush, green lawn in early spring.  

Keep the Lawn Clean

Rake with fallen leaves at autumn
encierro / Adobe Stock Free / License

Debris removal should be on top of your winter lawn care checklist. Fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris can hamper your lawn’s health. There are many benefits to having a healthy lawn, including greener grass.

If you don’t remove the leaves, you’ll likely run into these issues:

  • Blocked sunlight: Debris stands in your lawn’s sunshine, and sunlight is key to greening grass.
  • Standing moisture: Winter debris often stays wet from snow or rain. Lawn diseases, such as snow mold, harbor in the humidity.
  • Restricted airflow: Debris can smother grass.
  • Insect incitement: Lawn waste provides pests with safe shelter in the winter. 

Water in the Winter

Winter watering depends on your grass type:

  • Warm-season grass: During winter, most southern lawns only need 2 inches of water per month. Janet Hurley of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension warns that overwatering warm-season grass can cause large patch or root rot. When it’s below 70°F, she suggests only watering during drought. 
  • Cool-season grass: If the temperature is over 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the ground is free from snow and ice, watering your lawn through the winter helps its health. Cool-season grass needs about 4 inches of water per month in the winter. Water deeply and infrequently, turning on the sprinklers for 15 to 20 minutes once or twice monthly. 

Don’t Tread on Turf

Warm-season grass is fragile when it’s frigid, making it more susceptible to foot traffic damage. Trampling on snow-covered cool-season grass might cause soil compaction

Compacted soil reduces your lawn’s nutrition, hydration, and root growth. Regardless of grass type, core aeration cures compaction.

Wipeout Weeds

Late summer through fall is the best time to prevent winter weeds. When the soil is about 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, apply pre-emergent herbicides to stop winter annuals from sprouting. In early winter, hand-pull any visible weeds. 

Mow, If It Grows

Female legs of woman using lawn mower.
serhiibobyk / Adobe Stock Free / License

If your grass is growing, it needs mowing. Although grass growth slows in the winter, several southern states only have a brief bit of dormancy. If you go as low as South Florida, winter lawns typically need biweekly mowing. Also, in the transitional zone some cool-season grasses grow all winter.

Waltz suggests mowing warm-season grass at its regular height but says mowing cool-season grass a little low before winter can give it a “wow factor” come spring.  Doing so inspires striping and detours pests and diseases. 

When should I stop mowing? You should stop mowing before winter when grass growth halts, typically when it’s consistently cooler than 50°F. It’s best to be observant and play it by ear because the weather is challenging to predict. 

Choose Right, When Melting Ice

Agronomist John Daniels warns that runoff water containing sodium chloride (i.e., rock salt) can damage lawns and landscaping. He recommends calcium chloride ice melt because it works in weather as cold as -25 degrees Fahrenheit and is “relatively safe” for lawns when applied correctly. 

Try Turf Paint

If you get frosty winters, warm-season grass goes dormant, causing color loss. You can’t stop dormancy but can temporarily mask it with grass paint

FAQ about Green Grass in Winter

What kind of grass stays green in the winter?

Some tall fescue varieties, such as Kentucky 31 and Rebel Supreme, stay green year-round in the transitional zone. In South Florida, warm-season grasses (e.g., St. Augustine) stay green year-round. 

What’s the best fertilizer for keeping grass green in the winter?

Conduct a soil test to select the best lawn fertilizer for fall. Soil with perfect nutrient portions promotes lush lawns. Adding inputs your soil lacks is essential, but Bowling warns against over-fertilization, explaining, “The biggest mistake I see folks make with their lawns is to over-love them.” 

A balanced diet strengthens grass and inspires vibrant greening. Soil test results are paramount because they provide a road map to proper fertilization. They reveal precisely what inputs are needed by identifying existing levels of:

  • NPK
  • Micronutrients
  • Organic matter
  • pH 

Don’t apply fertilizer when the grass is dormant or the ground is frozen. 

Does applying Epsom salt in the fall make grass greener?

If a soil test reveals a magnesium deficiency, Epsom salt helps revitalize grass’s green color. It contains magnesium sulfate and magnesium is a core component of chlorophyll. Since chlorophyll gives plants color, a lack of magnesium causes lawn discoloration.

However, Waltz warns that Epsom salt applications usually do more harm than good. He explains that soil is rarely magnesium-deficient. Too much magnesium can damage your lawn’s health and lead to a lack of iron, boron, and potassium. 

When to Hire a Lawn Treatment Pro

The best way to keep your lawn green in the winter is by hiring a lawn treatment pro. LawnStarter links you to experienced outdoor service pros who are affordable and insured. With instant online quoting and a user-friendly app, it’s as easy as ordering a pizza. 

Main Photo Credit: encierro / Adobe Stock Free / License

Michelle Selzer

Michelle Selzer

Michelle Selzer is a witty writer with a passion for plants and outdoor power tools. When she's not out in the yard, Michelle enjoys fishing, hunting, and chasing waterfalls.