Having a beautiful lawn isn’t magic. It takes dedicated, focused work to keep your lawn healthy and happy during all seasons in California. Whether we’re dealing with drought or chilly temperatures, lawn care should be at the top of your to-do list if having green grass is important to you. During winter, lawns in California require some specific care in order to allow them to thrive. Even if you live in a part of the state with milder winter temps, you’ll need to practice scheduled lawn care for grass to remain healthy. Here are some things to think of when it comes to lawn care in California during the winter.

Grasses in California

While there are many varieties of grasses that can do well in California, the most common for lawns is fescue and St. Augustine. These varieties are hearty and can withstand semi-extreme conditions.

Fescue

This grass features narrow, deep-green blades and is relatively low maintenance. It grows thick and lush during the cool season and during the winter, you can water, weed, and fertilize heavily so that when the summer comes the grass will remain healthy. This is the most common lawn grass in California because it easily absorbs water even during a drought.

St. Augustine

This variety is native to the Mediterranean and Caribbean and while it is a warm-season grass, it can withstand cooler temperatures because of its aggressiveness. It is bluegreen in color and creates a dense turf. As a result of the density, you’ll need to aerate and water it regularly so that nutrients can reach the roots. It’s a durable grass that does well in heat, drought, and more.

Proper Lawn Care

Winter isn’t a time to take your foot off the pedal when it comes to lawn care. In fact, this season is a prime time to enrich your lawn for the warm months. Depending on where you are in the state, you may keep mowing just with a higher blade. If you don’t need to mow there are things that every Californian can do to promote a healthy lawn:

Aerate. Winter is an excellent time to aerate the lawn because it won’t become overly dry.
Weed. Make sure to keep an eye on weeds and things like mushrooms as an abundance of those may mean the soil is overwatered.
Fertilize. Build up your soil and test the pH.
Water Appropriately. We may receive more rain during the cooler months, so that means that if you have an irrigation schedule, you’ll need to alter it. Make sure your lawn isn’t being drenched.

Weed and Pest Control

Weeds and pests can still wreak havoc in the winter. Ensuring that your lawn doesn’t suffer damage from these annoyances, even when it’s colder, can be a full-time job. The professionals at AAI Pest Control offer weed and pest control lawn services for California residents. Even if you’ve tried all the standard tactics, we should be able to help. Controlling weeds and pests during winter is crucial to the health of your lawn. This season is when you’re dedicating time to nourishing soil and the grass growing in it. Allowing weeds and pests to undo your work isn’t necessary.The goal is to prevent weeds and pests from causing a problem and handling them swiftly if they do. We’re here to help!

Lawns need a lot of care no matter the season. The AAI Pest Control team has decades of experience in helping Californians care for their lawns and gardens. Whether you’re trying to control pests or simply need some TLC for your lawn, we can help. We can handle fertilization, gopher damage, tree injections, and more. Contact us today to find out more about our year-round lawn care services and let us devise a plan that fits your specific needs. We’re your partner in lawn care.