Question: What can I do to prevent and help my lawn from frost damage?

Steve Says:

Recently planted (sprigged, sodded, or seeded) grasses can expect to be more severely damaged by cold. Due to less root development and more tender and succulent shoot tissue, overall stress tolerance is reduced in grasses undergoing establishment. Therefore, particularly in north Florida, delay fall planting of grasses until spring or early summer. In South Florida, year-round establishment may be practiced, but care should be taken to protect immature turf from occasional cold temperatures.

Fertility can also influence cold tolerance. Late season application of nitrogen will promote shoot growth in the fall, when the grass growth and metabolism are slowing down. This will deplete carbohydrate reserves, which help the grass regrown from any stress, and will also produce new, tender shoot growth that is less able to tolerate adverse conditions such as cold. Therefore, late-season application of nitrogen is not recommended.

Potassium fertility in the fall has been shown to enhance cold tolerance and promote earlier spring green up of grass. Application of potassium at the rate of ? to 1 lb. per 1000 square feet is recommended for the last fertilization of the year. At Heron, we apply potassium all fall and winter long to help this process.

Effects of shade can increase cold damage. Because shaded areas do not become as warm as areas in full sun, injury in these areas may be more severe. Compacted soils also remain cooler than well-drained areas, which increases the probability of cold temperature damage.

Increasing mowing height can reduce cold injury in a number of ways. First, it will promote deeper rooting, which is one factor always associated with greater stress tolerance. It will also allow for production and storage of more carbohydrates late in the summer. In addition, higher mowing heights can create a warmer micro-environment due to extra canopy cover provided by longer leaf tissue.

Because cold damage may initially resemble drought stress, people sometimes feels that additional water may be needed. Overall, correct irrigation practices as described in our lawn care section can alleviate many stresses faced by turf, but as the grass goes into dormancy, water needs are reduced.

Question: I live in Orlando and have had Heron treating my lawn for several years. I have been through several companies that I will not mention up until hiring Heron. You guys have turned my lawn around and I have recently received yard of the month. Thank you for so much for all your hard work. I do have a question. I have a large circle in my lawn that has popped up overnight that is greener then the rest of the lawn and it appears to be growing and now has mushrooms growing alng the edges of it. What is this?

Steve Says:

First, I would like to say thank you for the compliment. We work hard at being the best pest control company in central Florida. We will continue to provide you the best service we possibly can.

The ring in your lawn is called fairy ring. Fairy ring is a circular to semicircular band of dark green turf grass. When a turf site has buried caches of leaves or stumps, a fairy ring can develop. Enhanced turf grass vigor is due to the organic release of nitrogen in the turf root zone.

During warmer months with ample moisture, many established fairy rings may exhibit reproductive stages such as mushrooms or puffballs. Do not let your pets eat these mushrooms. Certain varieties are toxic to pets and people. Fairy ring may occur several times per year. No treatment is needed for this. It will grow out usually within a couple of weeks. Keeping your lawn mowed more frequently with help with the appearance during the grow out process.

Question: I have a lot of brown spots in my lawn. They popped up overnight. The soil is moist, so its not drought. Any idea what is causing this?

Steve Says:This could be many things, however, this time of year, the most common brown spot to happen quickly is brown patch fungus. The area may appear to have a doughnut shaped appearance. The base of the blade will slide out easily and have a black shiny appearance at the base of the leaf.

This disease is most likely to be observed from October through May when temperatures are below 80 F. It is normally not observed in the summer. Infection is triggered by rainfall, excessive irrigation or extended periods of high humidity resulting in the leaf canopy being continuously wet for 48 hours or more. It can be transferred to other parts of your lawn by mowers, walking through it, etc. A good fungicide should be applied to it every 14 days, 2-3 consecutive times to get it under control. Once the fungus is controlled, you can then start fertilizing it to help with the recovery. Call us for a free lawn care quote.