Keep Your St. Augustine Grass Thriving Through Citrus County’s Challenging Winter Dry Season

Winter in Citrus County, Florida presents unique challenges for St. Augustine grass maintenance. Unlike northern regions where lawns go completely dormant, St. Augustine grass in Central Florida may not go fully dormant during winter, especially in areas south of Interstate 4, requiring continued care through the dry season. Understanding how to properly maintain your lawn during this critical period can mean the difference between a lush spring recovery and costly renovation.

Understanding St. Augustine Grass During Florida’s Dry Season

St. Augustine grass requires water to remain green and healthy and may require supplemental irrigation during extended dry periods. During Citrus County’s winter months, periods of low rainfall may require you to water your lawn more frequently, making proper irrigation management essential.

St. Augustine grass performs exceptionally well in Citrus County because it tolerates sandy soil, handles salt exposure from Gulf breezes, and provides good shade tolerance for properties with mature trees. Floratam and Palmetto varieties are particularly suited to Citrus County’s conditions.

Winter Fertilization Strategy

Proper nutrition during winter months requires a delicate balance. According to the University of Florida, November is the last month you should fertilize St. Augustine grass. However, if you are still mowing your St. Augustine grass at least once every 9-10 days in December and January, you need to be pushing it with nitrogen and potassium, hard.

Refrain from applying nitrogen-containing fertilizer until spring as a general rule, but active growth may require continued feeding. Before the onset of winter, consider applying a winterizer fertilizer high in potassium to strengthen your lawn against the stresses of colder weather. This fertilizer can also help maintain the overall health and color of your lawn during the cooler months.

Watering Techniques for the Dry Season

Winter watering requires adjustment from summer schedules. Watering in winter should be reduced, as your lawn’s water requirements will be lower during this time. Make sure to water early in the day, allowing enough time for the grass to dry before evening temperatures drop. This practice can help prevent frost damage to your lawn.

Consider manually operating the irrigation system during the winter by turning the system to the off position and back on only when two weeks of no rainfall has passed. This will also help keep plants dry during freeze events.

You know St. Augustine is thirsty when the leaf folds like a book down the blade. Then it’s time to water that night. This visual cue helps prevent both under and overwatering during the dry season.

Disease Prevention During Winter Months

Winter brings specific disease challenges for St. Augustine grass. The time you need fungicide the most is during the transition from dry season to wet season and vice versa. That would be April/May/June & September/October/November. These are the months when disease pressure is at its highest.

Large Patch disease can cause brown areas in St. Augustine during winter. You can tell large patch by the irregular shaped circles it creates in the turf. The circles expand and follow the flow of water. Fertilizing will likely make your lawn more susceptible to fungal disease over the winter. This time of year it’s good to be on a systemic fungicide program.

Mowing and Maintenance Adjustments

St. Augustine grass typically requires weekly mowing during the growing season and less frequent mowing during the cooler months of the year. In north Florida, mowing may not be required during winter months. For Citrus County, aim to mow every three to four weeks to keep your lawn looking its best during winter, depending on the growth rate. Pay attention to the height of the grass blades to know when it’s time to cut, making sure never to cut more than one-third of the blade length.

Winter months require less frequent mowing but still need regular maintenance—debris cleanup, edging, irrigation adjustments, and monitoring for pest or disease issues that can develop during cooler, wetter periods.

Professional Lawn Care Expertise

Managing St. Augustine grass through Citrus County’s winter dry season requires local expertise and understanding of regional conditions. Professional Lawn Care Services Citrus County, FL providers understand the unique challenges of maintaining warm-season grasses during Florida’s variable winter weather patterns.

Companies that have been family-owned and operated in Citrus County since 1995 understand exactly what works in the area’s specific climate and soil conditions. They’re not applying generic treatments—they know local grass types, pest cycles, and weather patterns. Their “beyond meticulous” approach means they do the job right the first time.

Preparing for Spring Recovery

Stop starving your St. Augustine grass. Keep it moving and let the strong survive. If one or two stolons die off, others will move in and replace them, but there has to be enough fertilizer there for this to happen. St. Augustine needs time to recover after the hot summer stress, making winter care crucial for spring performance.

Landscapes need time to rest as temperatures cool. Forcing landscapes to actively grow and demanding green lawns in Florida winters contributes to plant injury and costly renovation. Applying nutrients during the appropriate months, selecting the “right plants,” and conducting proper seasonal care will reduce plant losses during North Central Florida winters.

Conclusion

Successfully maintaining St. Augustine grass through Citrus County’s winter dry season requires balancing reduced growth patterns with continued care needs. By adjusting watering schedules, monitoring for disease, maintaining proper mowing heights, and working with experienced local professionals, homeowners can ensure their lawns emerge from winter ready for vigorous spring growth. The key is understanding that while growth slows, maintenance doesn’t stop—it simply adapts to seasonal conditions and local climate patterns specific to Central Florida’s unique environment.