Caring For Your Lawn During Dormancy: What You Need To Know
Just because your lawn looks brown and lifeless in winter doesn’t mean it’s dead—it’s simply dormant. And while it may not need mowing every week, it still requires some care and attention to ensure a healthy return in spring.
If you don’t take precautions now, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise when the weather warms up—thin patches, dead spots, and winter damage. Here’s what you need to know to protect your lawn during dormancy and set it up for success in the spring.
Preventing Winter Dog Damage
One of the most common issues we see when lawns break dormancy? Dead patches from dog urine.
Much like us, dogs don’t like the cold, so they tend to use the same spots near patios or walkways throughout winter. When combined with snow cover, the concentrated urine can create large, dead patches in your lawn.
How to Prevent Dog Urine Damage:
🐾 Encourage movement: Try to have your dog use different areas of the lawn instead of the same spot every time. A great way to do this is by shoveling a different area each time it snows—dogs naturally gravitate to the cleared area.
💧 Dilute with water: When temperatures rise above freezing, heavily water the areas your dog uses. This helps push the urine deeper into the soil, diluting its effects before it can burn the grass.
Why Your Dormant Lawn Still Needs Water
Even though your grass is not actively growing, it’s still alive—which means it still needs water. While it requires much less than during the growing season, prolonged dry periods in winter can lead to winter kill.
Winter kill is essentially drought damage during the winter months, occurring when there is little to no snow or rain to provide moisture. Without proper hydration, the grass dries out and dies.
How to Prevent Winter Kill:
💦 Water deeply in late fall – If possible, continue watering into late November or early December to give your lawn a strong start before winter fully sets in.
❄️ Monitor moisture levels – If we have a dry, snowless winter, use a hose to water your lawn when temperatures are above freezing. This nourishes the crown of the grass plant, ensuring it survives dormancy.
🚫 Don’t shut down irrigation too early – Cutting off water too soon (such as in early October) can weaken the grass before dormancy, making it more vulnerable to winter kill.
Mowing Tips for Winter Prep
Some homeowners believe they should cut their grass extra short before winter, to “put it to bed,” but this can actually do more harm than good. Mowing too short stresses out the grass, putting it into recovery mode rather than dormancy.
Best Mowing Practices for Dormant Grass:
Keep it at 3.5″ – 4″ – Taller grass provides insulation and protects against harsh winter winds.
Grass height affects soil temperature – Taller grass helps regulate soil temperatures during temperature swings, preventing unnecessary stress on the lawn.
Final Thoughts
Taking these simple steps during dormancy can make a huge difference when spring arrives. By preventing dog damage, ensuring proper moisture, and maintaining the right mowing height, you’ll give your lawn the best chance for a lush, green comeback.
Your lawn may be sleeping, but it’s still alive—take care of it now so it thrives later!
Contact us today for professional lawn care advice and services!