Winter started hard and stayed tough on grass in Georgia. We anticipate a demand for replacement sod in the spring.
University of Florida agronomists have identified the top four reasons grass in the Southeast is injured in cold months, that is, any time the temperature falls below 20°F
1) Tissue desiccation. The grass literally dries out during an extended cold snap.
2) Direct low temperature kills, in other words, a hard freeze.
3) Diseases
4) Traffic. Frozen grass becomes very fragile and the blades break when compressed.
That last reason is often overlooked. It is not only about obvious tracks where mud has replaced grass. But if an animal, jogger or golfer crushes frozen grass in Georgia, the protective crown is damaged and the death spiral begins.
Look for early signs of turf needing replacement in shaded areas, where it stays colder longer, gets colder faster, and where lack of sun reduces a plant’s ability to produce carbohydrates needed for increased cold tolerance.
Let us recommend a selection of cold-hardy grasses
The hardiest species is zoysiagrass, followed in by bermudagrass, bahiagrass, centipedegrass, seashore paspalum, carpetgrass, and St. Augustinegrass. We can also discuss management practices to minimize winter damage to your natural resource.
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