Why Should I Keep Watering My Lawn During the Winter Months?

Your lawn does not have to die in the winter in the southwest. Your lawn will not make it through the brittle dry season if you are not attentive. An occasional watering of the lawn is recommended to support its growth during the cold months.

Grass, as with any plant, grows accustomed to cold weather. As they cannot extract moisture from frozen water, they go dormant to conserve whatever little water they have within their system. Your lawn gets brown in the winter because the grass is in survival mode.

Your grass, but, can only maintain this adaptability for approximately three to four weeks in low humidity. After this time, they start to die off as midwestern winters go through February.

You don’t want to be planting grass at different times of the year. That’s impossible. It is, therefore, essential that the grass receives water. As long as there is new growth underneath it is a good time to water.

Winter lawn watering is not a done willy-nilly; some planning and thought should go into the process. Low temperature disrupts every process that is important in water absorption by plants.

Soil and plant roots are in a frozen state, making water absorption very difficult. Existing leaf cells are covered with a film of ice, which makes them unable to extract moisture from the atmosphere. Your timing and amount of water is very important because you can exacerbate a bad situation.

A Lawn Still Needs Water When the Grass is Dormant

Dormant grass is not dead, it merely looks brown because there is limited water bioavailability. Low temperatures are what transform atmospheric moisture into ice. Photosynthesis cannot occur with frozen water, whether in the roots or the leaves.

The only way your grass will get moisture is by watering it. The water will keep the grass crown alive a little longer. The reason for irrigation during winter is not to green the grass, but to lengthen the survival stage longer.

By watering it you are allowing it to stay dormant until spring comes and it greens again. This is because the grass-blade cannot uptake moisture from the air and therefore the roots are the primary concern when giving irrigation.

Also, to help keep the roots alive it gives them water in the winter time. Dry conditions kill roots fast. If the roots are alive, the plant can recover once the temperatures begin to rise again.

The season also contributes to soil dryness since the ice stays on the surface of the ground and doesn’t melt to reach the roots of the grass. So, if your only assumption about browning is that the cause is dormancy, you risk losing the entire lawn. One way to ensure that the grass roots live through the winter is to keep them watered regularly.

Watering Grass After It Snows

Timing and placement of watering during winter are just as important. Most lawn grass varieties used in the southwest are drought tolerant. The long winter season definitely plays a role in this.

This is also the case with grass in arid climates whose roots dig massively deep into the soils to take perspiration/humidity from the earth. And your grass has similar ones. But winter air temperatures also freeze water beneath the ground surface. So it is vital to your plant’s life to water the roots.

When watering the grass, water the roots. The water hydrates the root fibers and stems, ensuring they do not desiccate. If the roots are healthy so is the grass.

Hitting them at the roots is one, but when to water them is another critical factor. This is in order to ensure that the roots, are taking as much of that water as possible and not pouring more water into the soil. Watering too much will rot the roots and kill the grass. Keep in mind that your species of grass are adapted for dry weather.

Watering grass in winter is most effective following a snowfall. As the snow melts, the roots follow the water and are able to expand within the soil. It also promotes deeper root growth and covers quite a bit of ground. It consolidates the root system of the grass making it healthier.

Deep watering also reduces water loss by evaporation, which is important as well. Soil moisture at the surface of the soil evaporates more readily. When temperatures drop, the water can freeze quickly in winter. Unfavorable targeting starts at lower ground levels, making it easier for the roots to access underground water.

Should You Water Grass When It’s Cold Outside?

Plants require water in every season and particularly in the cold seasons. Reduced transpiration also fails to meet water requirements under cool temperatures. The purpose of watering is to maintain the plant roots alive. Cold winters in the Southwest limit available water for plant use, predisposing roots to desiccation and ultimately plant death.

Don’t be deceived into thinking your grass doesn’t need a lot of water to remain healthy in winter as the land does dry out in winter. Fail to address their water needs and you might find yourself replanting in the spring. The practicality of this watering is that it maintains the plant in a dormant state, ideally until the air temperatures are warmer and the precipitation has changed from ice to water.

Here is one possible method for watering during winter:

• Water on warm winter days, that way the soil can absorb the most water possible.
• Do not water at evenings, the water will freeze when temperatures start falling.
• Water the grass once/twice a month. The plant is already in survival mode, so a little will be sufficient.
• Prepare a hose-end sprinkler or watering wand for watering in cold weather, as most sprinklers freeze in winter.
• The ground should not get too wet from watering because waterlogging is a source of root rot. Or water for short periods of time and let them soak before rewatering.

How Much Water to Use in the Winter Months

The grass lawn doesn’t require as much water in winter as in summer. Grass also transpires more quickly in hot, dry weather. Soils have a high level of evaporation as well due to searing hot sun. The earth also stores this heat for a longer time. In the summer this means weekly or bi-weekly watering.

Conversely, winter dryness is of a different sort. Water is not available since it freezes at sub-zero or near-zero temperatures. So, plants cannot “draw” moisture from the atmosphere or from the roots. Sometimes it gets warm enough for the snow to melt, providing a bit of water to be available for the roots.

Also, plants are actively working during the summer, preparing and storing food, while the reverse happens in winter when they stop all activity. With the browning of the grass blades, the photosynthesis declines and thus the plant is required to use water and other nutrients that are stored.

The dormant state is analogous to animal hibernation. The grass makes slow use of nutrients until they deplete their reserves. Thus, they need only ample water to get through the cold season because the excess will only make them rot, given low evaporation and transpiration.

Right away temperatures freeze the free water contained in the soil, and ice crystals begin to form and burn the roots. Don’t overwater. The goal, don’t forget, is not to maintain green grass, but rather to extend the grass’ ability to go dormant and not die.

Grass requires very little maintenance and can survive the winter season. Make sure you get to know your lawn so that you know when it’s time to act. If there is still some green visible, it indicates that the grass is alive and healthy. Browning, remember, does not equal death; it is a sign of dormancy. Continue watering and the grass will make it through the brutal southwest winter season, and come spring, you’ll be happy you did.

Professional Winter Lawn Care Service by ASAP Sands Outdoor Services

Hire a knowledgeable lawn care company to manage your winter lawn care and give yourself some time back.

For more than 41 years, ASAP Sands Outdoor Services has been providing lawn service no matter the season. Reach out today to learn more about our services and how we can help your lawn flourish.