During winter many areas in Gainesville can most likely experience extreme cold weather, and possibly freezing temperatures. I'm sure a lot of people will receive frost on their St. Augustine lawns. Cold weather and wind together can cause stress on St. Augustine grass. February Florida St. Augustine grass lawn care can be done, to start preparing for a healthy and vigorous lawn for spring and summer.
The first signs that you have had frost or cold weather stress on your St. Augustine lawn, is you will see the blades turn purple to black, and will most likely eventually become brown. This Does Not mean the roots are dead and you will loose your lawn. Your lawn should bounce back when warm weather returns. New green growth will replace any discolored blades of grass throughout your Gainesville yard.
Areas that have crabgrass will surely turn brown but unfortunately the crabgrass has not died off, leaving just the St. Augustine grass by itself. When summer returns crabgrass will be back healthy as can be. If those areas are mostly crabgrass, you might consider replacing it with new sod or grass plugs in the spring. Before laying down sod or planting grass plugs, treat those areas with "Weed Grass Killer" such as "Round-Up" to kill the crabgrass. Remember to watch for over-spraying for the chemical is"Non-Selective ", meaning it will kill everything! Always follow directions on the label. If these areas are large, it can be expensive if you have to replace half your lawn. If the areas are small and in spots, this is a good time to get rid of unwanted grass and weeds.
Also, the thicker your lawn is the better chance it has to choke out crabgrass, if it starts to invade your lawn again.
The End of February is a good time to begin fertilizing your Gainesville lawn and Gainesville Landscaping, as well. I recommend using a "Slow-Release Granular Fertilizer", to begin growing a green healthy turf with a good foundation for the spring and summer. You can apply a Weed 'n' Feed for St. Augustine grass lawncare at this time to get a jump start on those ugly weeds. But there is a window on when to stop using it. Do Not wait until it is too late, when the temperature is above 80 degrees. Applying a weed 'n' feed when it is too hot for it to be done is not recommended, for the chemicals can burn or kill your lawn. Always follow directions on the label, as with any type of fertilizer you use. If you don't have a lot of weeds, use a "Selective Liquid Weed Killer" for St. Augustine grass to treat the weeds by doingspot weeding. Once again read the label, on proper rate of spraying, and instructions for it's usage.
Follow these helpful tips on February Florida St. Augustine grass lawn care to start your lawn growing with a good foundation. Spring is just around the corner so begin now on having a healthy, lush green lawn you want to have . Plus it will help keep your Gainesville Florida lawn looking great during the summer months.