Has your lawn lost a bit of colour during the cooler months but not sure why, or how to help get your lawn back on track? Have you noticed a section of grass has held its colour better and not sure why? In this blog, we take a look at why this occurs and how you can help improve your lawns colour over winter.
Skip to: Why is Grass Green? Why Does Frost Make My Lawn Go Brown? Why Does One Lawn Look Better Than The Other How Can I Help Improve My Lawns Colour in Winter?
Why is Grass Green?
To understand why lawns can lose colour over winter, lets first look at why lawns are green. Like other trees and plants, grass converts energy from sunlight into sugar through the process of photosynthesis. During the process of photosynthesis, turf will produce a pigment called chlorophyll, which helps keep your lawn green. As the days get shorter and hours of sunlight decrease in winter, your grass will produce less chlorophyll. This can cause the grass to lose some colour and reduce the growth rate of the lawn. When temperatures cool and lawn growth slows down, the grass enters a stage known as dormancy.
Why Does Frost Make My Lawn Go Brown?
Another cause of colour loss to lawns over the cooler months of the year is frost. Frosts will usually occur more so in inland southern regions of Australia, away from coastal areas.
Frosts cause damage to lawns when the inside of the leaf freezes and expands, causing the cell wall of the grass to rupture. As a result of the cell wall becoming damaged, the process of photosynthesis slows down, causing the grass to lose its colour.
Why Does One Lawn Look Better Than the Other?
In some lawn situations, you may have noticed that one particular part of the lawn or section of grass has lost more colour than another. There are a few different reasons why this occurs, but the most common is that the greener sections of lawn are more protected from the elements compared to the other sections where the grass has lost colour.
This is common in areas where smaller backyards stay greener as they are protected by fences, buildings and trees, compared to front lawns that are more open to the elements.
How Can I Help Improve My Lawns Colour in Winter?
With an understanding of why lawns lose colour in winter, what steps can be taken to help improve their appearance? The right health and nutrition leading into the warmer months can assist; however, some colour loss is still to be expected, especially if your area is prone to frost damage. Applying a granular fertiliser in autumn is recommended to strengthen the lawn before winter. A granular fertiliser like the Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser or Pro Plus is ideal. Another great product to use is an iron-based product like Iron Guard Plus. Iron Guard Plus will help maximise colour retention and promote lateral growth, making it ideal for winter dormancy transition periods.
If you are mainly concerned about the aesthetics and colour of the lawn, this is where a lawn pigment like ColourGuard Plus can come in handy. ColourGuard Plus is a natural grass pigment that instantly restores the colour of your lawn. It works on all lawn types, in all climates and provides fantastic results year-round. ColourGuard Plus works on frost, dormant, and drought-affected lawns, instantly improving their appearance.
For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs here.