Spring weather is usually relatively warm, but occasionally nights can get chilly and frost can form on your lawn. The cold can burn some sections of the grass and cause yellow or white patches. This discoloration can easily be mistaken for disease or fungus, but it is actually caused by the cold temperatures.
Grass is more likely to become damaged by a spring frost if it has just started growing than if it had been growing for a few weeks. Grass that has recently been mowed is more likely to suffer damage. Grass in sunny areas is also more likely to get burnt from frost.
Although it might not look good, your lawn will probably not suffer any lasting damage from spring frost. The cold can harm the blades of grass, but the roots should be fine. The burnt pattern should go away as the grass grows out and is mowed over the next few weeks.
If the grass has become discolored by spring frost, do not walk on it until the sun is high in the sky and the temperature has risen. Frozen grass is brittle and can be damaged or broken if it is walked on.
When grass freezes, the moisture that carries carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis crystallizes. These crystals sit on the surface of the leaves and evaporate in the morning, which dries out the grass. As the lawn dries out, you should water it to a depth of one inch a day or two after the frost.
Do not mow your lawn until it has begun to grow and the discoloration has begun to lessen. Raise your lawn mower setting up at least ½ inch, depending on the species of grass in your lawn. You should never scalp a lawn that is recovering from frost. Leaves generate more carbohydrates and protect the crowns from further frost.
If there was a hard freeze or large patches of grass have died, rake your lawn to remove dead blades. Dead grass blades can contribute to thatch.
Do not fertilize your lawn for up to a month. Adding too much nitrogen to dehydrated grass can cause more damage.
A sprinkler system can simplify the task of watering your lawn. You can set the amount of water and the schedule so your lawn gets the right amount of hydration at the right time. Sprinkler System Store has a wide selection of sprinklers from leading manufacturers. Browse our selection to find the one that is best for your lawn.
