Spring lawn problems are common in North Florida. Problems within lawns seem to be the norm rather than the exception. Patience, warmer soil temperatures and correct maintenance practices will solve many of these lawn problems.

As spring green up occurs, many people are disappointed with a less than perfect lawn. In most cases, their expectations and their past lawn maintenance practices are too high – they expect too much from a Florida lawn, and they probably have erred on the side of overdoing it in maintaining their lawn.

Many spring dead spots in lawns are caused by something that happened in previous growing seasons. For example, late applications of high-nitrogen fertilizer can decrease winter survival. It’s best not to fertilize after September. If you insist on fertilizing a warm season grass after September, use low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer. Weather plays a role, too. Part of my front year in Crestview is not coming back, probably due to cold damage during winter. I had snow on my lawn two Januarys in a row.

A late infestation of insects or disease the previous season many times goes unseen and/or untreated as the grass is becoming dormant. As the lawn begins to green come spring, evidence of a fall pest problem may be evident by brown dead, grass. The pest may not be present or active during spring.

Incorrect maintenance practices are a common factor involved with spring dead spots in lawns. Irrigating too often, mowing too low, over fertilizing and herbicide injury during previous years can result in poor lawn performance during spring.

Regardless of the cause, weak/injured areas in lawns are slow to recover in spring because frequent cool nights keep the soil temperature or root zone cool.

Cool soil temperature doesn’t allow rapid root regeneration in spring, which inhibits top growth in your lawn. Cool soil decreases availability of some needed nutrients. For example, poor availability of iron causes yellow areas within lawns, poor availability of phosphorus and potassium can result in reddish-purple grass blades, intermingled throughout the yard. As soil temperatures increase with consistently warmer nights, availability of nutrients improves and the yellow and reddish-purple areas turn green.

Have patience with your lawn and follow good maintenance practices this spring. Refer to Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn in mowing, watering and fertilizing.

Consistently warmer nights will allow soil temperatures to warm, which improves grass root growth, nutrient availability and lawn recovery. Most years in North Florida, it’s well into the month of May before our lawns improve. If your lawn fails to recover, it may require renovation. Renovating Your Florida Lawn

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