Why is my Atlanta Lawn Not Greening Up Yet?
While the summer season is ramping up, lawn care is becoming top-of-mind for many homeowners. With normal seasonality, grass should be transitioning to vibrant greens, but this year things have trended differently for Atlanta lawns. By mid-May 2023, we’ve seen many lawns struggling to transition out of dormancy leaving many homeowners puzzled. However, if you notice a slow green-up in your lawn this year, don’t panic! With continued monitoring, care, patience, and a little help from mother nature, we will soon see the lush, green lawns we all strive for.
At What Temperature Does Grass Green Up?
Warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia start transitioning out of dormancy during late spring. The peak growing season for warm-season lawns in Atlanta is the summer! So why are we seeing a stunt in spring green-up? Lawns transitioning out of dormancy is dependent on the temperatures of the soil, and soil temperatures should consistently reach the mid-60s to begin seeing green-up. This year, Atlanta weather has not provided the normal or ideal temperatures for lawns to proceed as normal.
Weather in Atlanta Causing Stall in Spring Green-Up
The University of Georgia Turfgrass Specialist, Clint Waltz, Ph.D., states, “For most of April and the beginning of May, warm season turf has been stalled. Despite the low temperatures associated with the “Christmas Freeze” (December 23 to 26, 2022), December, January, and February were relatively warm, giving a false sense of an early spring green-up. When March cool temperatures arrived, grass growth stalled.”
He continued with a rundown of what we’ve seen in early 2023:
- Using data and observations from the UGA Griffin Campus weather station as an indicator, during March and April there was only one night (April 6) where the low temperature did not fall below 65° F.
- There were three (3) frost events in March (15, 16, and 21).
- From April 30 through May 5, the low temperatures were in the 40’s – for six (6) consecutive nights. These conditions resulted in 4-inch soil temperatures struggling to reach the mid-60s when warm-season turfgrasses initiate rooting and active growth.
- My comments to the calls and emails have been that our grasses have been “sitting on go” just waiting for favorable environmental conditions.
Tips for Promoting Lawn Green-Up
When homeowners see stunted growth or color in the lawn, it’s naturally a cause for concern. But there are a few things to keep in mind as we approach warmer days and monitor the progress in Georgia’s warm-season grasses.
Patience is Key
While this waiting game can be frustrating, it’s often the key to lawn care success. Environmental factors hold a great deal of control over the conditions of our lawns and landscaping. Right now, we need to wait for consistent daytime highs in the 80s-90s with consistent overnight lows in the 60s-70s.
Good Watering Practices
As your lawn wakes up and prepares for the growing season, it’s crucial to make sure it has efficient water to thrive. Just like us, your lawn requires water to survive but it’s also important to avoid overwatering your lawn in a panic. Bermuda and Zoysia lawns need about 1 inch of water per week including rainfall.
Mowing & Spring Aeration
Keeping the lawn cut to the proper height promotes healthy turf density and allows sunlight, water, and nutrients to better reach the soil. Additionally, annual aeration each spring will alleviate compaction, and encourage stronger, deeper root growth.
Spring Fertilization for Your Lawn
Make sure your lawn is receiving the necessary nutrients with spring fertilization to encourage healthy growth. Like the importance of water, your lawn needs food for energy, growth, and resiliency.
Why are Some Areas of my Lawn Greening Up Faster Than Others?
Common concerns that we may see during the green-up season are areas of the lawn greening up faster than others, or even neighboring lawns progressing sooner than others. This is another factor that is affected by the environment. Different areas of the lawn may do better or worse throughout the season depending on what direction they face during peak sunlight hours and how many hours of direct sun they receive. Additionally, soil conditions and pH levels can vary from lawn to lawn. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Regular soil testing and amendments are crucial to monitoring the health of your lawn. Soil samples can be sent to your local extension office and in some cases, soil samples may be a service option from your lawn care provider. For All Turf customers, we can help you with that!
Hiring a Professional for Atlanta Lawn Care
Residents can rely on All Turf Lawn Care for top-quality lawn care services throughout the greater Atlanta area. Since 2005, we’ve provided weed control and fertilization services, aeration, overseeding for fescue lawns, mosquito control, and more. We are closely monitoring the weather each season and making improvements to our programs and applications to make sure your lawn has everything it needs to be happy and healthy. Our skilled technicians and customer service team are knowledgeable and ready to assist you with any question or concern along the way. Contact us today for a free quote for lawn care services for your Atlanta lawn!
