Is My Lawn Dead—and Should I Be Fertilizing Right Now?

Winter lawn care tips for St. Lucie County homeowners

Each winter, people in St. Lucie County notice their grass growing more slowly or turning brown. This makes many homeowners ask:
“Is my lawn dead?” and “Should I add fertilizer to make it green again?”

The good news is that most of the time, this is normal. Even though Florida winters are mild, grass slows down when days are shorter and nights are cooler.

Should you fertilize your lawn in winter?

Most lawns in St. Lucie County are St. Augustinegrass, bahiagrass, or centipedegrass. These grasses grow best in warm weather. In winter, they rest.

Winter fertilization guidance for St. Lucie County

Do not fertilize your lawn from October through March.

Adding fertilizer in winter can:

Make new grass grow that is easily damaged by cold
Cause lawn diseases
Waste fertilizer because the grass can’t use it yet

If you forgot to fertilize in the fall, that’s okay. Waiting until spring is better for your lawn.

What about other plants

Different plants need different care in winter:

Lawns: Do not fertilize
Shrubs and flowers: Most don’t need fertilizer now
Citrus trees: Some may need fertilizer, depending on their age
Palms: Yellow leaves often mean they need nutrients, not that they are resting

When you’re not sure, it’s best to wait and watch, not rush to fertilize.

Why is my lawn turning brown?

Grass resting is normal

Many Florida grasses turn brown in winter because they are resting, not dying.

Cold weather can stress grass

Cold nights can cause:

Brown patches
Flattened grass
Slower green-up in spring

Try not to walk or drive on frosty grass—it can cause more damage.

Disease can be mistaken for nutrient problems

Some lawn diseases show up in cool, wet weather. Fertilizer will not fix these problems and can make them worse.

Is my lawn dead or just resting?

Here’s an easy test:

Cut a small piece of grass with roots
Plant it in a pot
Put it in a warm, sunny place

If it starts growing, your lawn is just resting and will recover.

What you should do for your lawn this winter

✔ Mow grass a little taller
✔ Water less often
✔ Don’t use weed-and-feed products
✔ Stay off cold or frosty grass
✔ Be patient—spring is coming!

The bottom line

Brown grass in winter usually means your lawn is doing what it’s supposed to do. Fertilizing now won’t help and may hurt your lawn.

The healthiest lawns in spring are the ones left alone in winter.