Your lawn may need different care in winter | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Your lawn may need different care in winter | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Friday, January 19, 2007

HAWAI'I'S GARDENS
Your lawn may need different care in winter

By Jay Deputy

Has your grass growth slowed down? This is normal at this time of year for our warmseason grasses. Winter's shorter days and cooler nights reduce their growth rate. When night temperatures are consistently in the mid- to low-60s, a Bermuda grass lawn may go into temporary dormancy — it stops growing and may even turn brown. Zoysia, paspalum, St. Augustine and centipede grasses will not usually go dormant in Hawai'i, but their growth rate noticeably slows down.

These stressful conditions result in a weaker lawn that is more susceptible to weed invasion, diseases and damage from foot traffic. By knowing what to expect and how to deal with it, you can take advantage of these next few months.

Here are maintenance suggestions:

Mowing always puts a temporary stress on grass. Since the lawn is growing more slowly you can mow less often. Follow the general mowing practice of not removing more than a third of the leaf growth at each mowing. This is also a good time to raise the height of cut a notch or two. This will allow more photosynthetic activity for the leaves and provide the roots with more carbohydrate reserves. A higher cut will also help to keep out invading weeds. Change up the direction and pattern of mowing (45- to 90-degree angles) from time to time. This will help to increase the density of the lawn.

Your lawn will not need as much fertilizer during the winter. Most warm-season turfs will do well with no fertilization in the winter. However, Bermuda grass and seashore paspalum may benefit from one application of a slow-release nitrogen formulation. Apply at a rate of one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn area and water in well. Be sure to make a uniform distribution using a rotary spreader. If you do choose to feed the lawn at this time, a fertilizer high in iron (at least 2 percent) will help to green it up without adding to extra leaf growth.

Watering is usually not a problem during Hawai'i's fairly rainy winters. However, it is still important to make sure that the grass is getting enough. Irrigating twice weekly should be sufficient during winter dry periods. Early morning is the best time. Leave the sprinklers on long enough to apply about 600 gallons per 1,000 square feet of lawn with each watering.

Weed control may become more difficult in the winter. The turf grass is growing slowly, but many of the grassy weeds actually like the cooler weather and gain an advantage. One application of a pre-emergent herbicide will help to prevent any new weeds growing from seed. Keeping the grass cut higher and on a regular basis will help to control existing weeds. Use the post emergent herbicides, such as Weed B Gone and Trimec, sparingly to control existing weeds in the winter.

Winter is not a good time to establish a new lawn or renovate an old one. The best planting time will be in April and May, when the warmer temperatures support a faster growth rate and a much quicker establishment. Don't verticut or scalp down the lawn during the winter months. Spring is also the best time for that type of maintenance activity. However, if you are considering a new lawn, this is a good time to start the weed removal and soil preparation process.

Winter months are also a good time for pruning back shrubs, hedges and small ornamental trees. However, ornamentals grown for flowers or fruit have specific pruning needs, so get familiar with the ones you have. Gardenia flowers once a year in May and June. Heavy pruning now will remove the developing buds and drastically reduce flower production. Mango flowers at this time of year and pruning back now will drastically reduce fruiting (which may not be all bad). Plants that flower once a year should be pruned back immediately after the blooming or fruiting cycle.

Common plumeria drops its leaves and flowers in December and can be easily pruned back from mid-December to early February. Singapore plumeria keeps its leaves over the winter but can also be safely pruned now. Most hedges need periodic pruning and now is a convenient time.

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