the grasshopper's gazette AFTER FREEZE

Brrrrr…. We had some chilly days and nights recently. We have so far this season experienced at least 2 freezes and 3 frosts. What does this mean for your lawn and landscape?

YOUR LAWN

Everyone one in our area has some type of warm season grass. It could be St. Augustine, Zoysia, Bermuda or Bahia. These grasses are specifically designed and/or chosen for this area because they do well in our growing zone. All of them will enter some degree of dormancy when the days become cooler and shorter. This is a normal and healthy cycle for your turf. 

FROST VS FREEZE

Frost occurs when the “surface” air temperature is below 36˚. This can damage foliage of sensitive plants, new plants, and new turf. A light freeze occurs when the temperatures fall below 32˚, moderate freeze temperature is 28˚-25˚ and a severe freeze is below 24˚. Here, in central Florida we are right on the frost/freeze line. Your lawn & landscape may have only frosted but your across the street neighbor may have experienced a freeze. 

WATERING

Most of your turf and plants are not dead. They are frosted and have some foliage damage. They still need water to survive. PLEASE, DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR WATER. All living things need water to survive. There is no catch--all watering advice for our area. There are too many outside factors that determine a proper watering schedule and an irrigation plan should be determined by a professional on a case by case basis.

MOWING

Mowing can be very tricky this time of year. Knowing whether to mow or not to mow takes education and experience. There are times when mowing should not occur like directly ahead of and directly after a frost/freeze. Mowing the grass can be a traumatic experience for the grass blades. It creates a cut on a living organism which leaves it more susceptible to extreme temperatures. Having well sharpened blades is most important this time of year and a clean cut heals much faster than a tear or rip. Also, decreasing foot traffic on winter lawns is highly recommended as it is growing and recovering at a very slow pace. 

CUTTING/PRUNING

A frost and/or freeze doesn’t just affect the grass, it also wreaks havoc on plants and shrubs. Most of the plants that are labeled for our zone can tolerate up to a moderate freeze. This doesn’t mean that they won’t experience foliage damage, it just means that they shouldn’t die. There are lots of plants within this area that can be trimmed all the way to the ground, once the threat of another freeze passes, and it will grow back into a new beautiful plant. Others should be trimmed at the “new growth line.” They should all be left alone until March. Newer established plants that weren’t protected from the freeze may be a total loss. The only way to know for sure is to wait until spring. Leaving the cold damaged tissue on the plants help to insulate it from future cold snaps. These brown leaves act as built-in insulation for the plant’s core. I know it can be tempting to just cut a “little off the top” but you will risk losing the entire plant.