What happens to grass during winter?

What happens to grass during winter?
What happens to grass during winter?

During the winter we know the lawn does not need to be mowed quite as often as in the spring and summer months, but why? What happens to grass and our lawns during winter to cause this?

Well the answer is pretty simple, it’s all down to growing conditions. There are a variety of factors which effect grass growing condition such as sunlight, moisture and temperature. In order for grass seed to germinate and established grass to grow soil temperature needs to be at least between 8-10 degrees celsius or higher.

Of course in the UK our temperature takes a downturn during winter, and as we approach December and early January we are well aware the temperature can even drop below freezing point. As the air temperature drops so too does the soil temperature, leading to the slowing of grass growth. When we get into the heart of the winter with the harsher condition our grass is almost dormant, hibernating like the hedgehogs until the weather begins to improve.

As the temperature begins to rise again in late winter and early spring we begin to see the grass come alive again, growing slowly at first but as we approach spring and summer, there’s no stopping it.

Perhaps consider using our SLOW RELEASE: Autumn / Winter and QUICK RELEASE: Autumn / Winter to give your lawn extra protection during cold weather.

Winter lawn tips

During winter your lawn may not require too much maintenance but we should still take a little care not to damage it. Frost can be the most harmful condition for our luscious lawns to face and we should take care not to walk of frozen grass as this can leave behind marks. Another tip for winter lawn care is to avoid piling snow on the grass when clearing driveways as this can bring along disease.