Five steps to get your lawn through winter

Lawns often look brown, patchy and tired during the colder months, especially in frosty areas.

This is common in the warm-season grasses grown across much of Australia, including couch, buffalo, kikuyu and zoysia, which naturally slow down and enter dormancy through winter. While the loss of colour can look alarming, it’s a normal response.

But without a little care, lawns can struggle to bounce back once the weather warms.

Here are five simple ways to help protect your lawn until spring.

1. Clear away leaves and debris

Fallen leaves and debris can smother the lawn and stop it from getting enough sunlight, leading to thinner, weaker patches through winter.

Regularly rake up leaf litter or mow over dry leaves to break them into smaller pieces for compost.

You can also pile leaves into a simple leaf-mould tower, where they’ll gradually break down into nutrient-rich organic matter for the garden.

2. Raise the mower height

Your lawn may not need mowing as often in winter, but it’s still important not to let it become overgrown.

Raise the mower deck slightly and avoid removing more than one-third of the leaf blade at a time.

Keeping grass a little longer helps maximise photosynthesis, which supports healthier roots and better recovery once the weather warms.

3. Stay on top of weeds

As lawn growth slows, weeds have the perfect opportunity to move in.

Broadleaf weeds such as clover, dandelion and cudweed spread quickly through thin or weakened lawns, competing for water and nutrients. Winter grass and bindii can also become a problem at this time of year if left unchecked.

Hand-pull weeds where possible, making sure to remove the roots, or spot-spray problem areas with a selective herbicide.

Staying on top of weeds now will prevent them from taking over by spring.

4. Feed the soil

Winter isn’t the time for heavy feeding, as you don’t want to encourage soft new growth in cold conditions.

Instead, focus on improving the soil beneath the lawn with a soil conditioner. Healthier soil supports stronger roots, helping the lawn cope better while dormant and bounce back once the weather warms.

5. Water less and protect frosty lawns

Cooler weather and slower growth mean lawns generally need far less water in winter – in many areas, rainfall may be enough.

Reduce watering frequency and avoid watering unless conditions have been particularly dry.

In frosty regions, avoid walking on grass while it’s covered in frost, as this can stress and discolour the blades. Frost-affected lawns may temporarily turn brown or purple, but they usually recover once warmer weather returns.

If appearance is important, such as before selling a home, lawn colourants can help disguise winter browning.

Next steps …

Once the weather starts warming in early to mid-spring, you can shift your focus back to active growth.

Apply a slow-release fertiliser, aerate compacted areas, top-dress uneven areas as needed, and repair any bare or thinning patches.

Tammy Huynh is a horticulturist, author and presenter on Gardening Australia and the owner of Leaf an Impression.