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As winter fades into the long Central Oregon spring,
be aware of how and when to be on your lawn, especially when frost is involved. Frost is different than our winter cold,
snow, and consistent cold temperatures. Your lawn is still in its dormant stage and handles these conditions - generally
walking across a snow covered lawn does not injure the dormant grass. Frost will occur when the daytime temperatures
are significantly warmer, but the night-time temperatures get cool.
Stay Off a Frosty Lawn
Avid golfers
and soccer players are familiar with frost delays for early morning matches. These delays are for the protection of
the grass. Homeowners should take note not to start lawn activities too early on these brisk mornings.
Frost
is most easily described as frozen dew. A settling frost causes a covering of ice crystals on leaf surfaces. When
thi area is trafficked it can cause the grass to be injured. Foot traffic or vehicular traffic can cause damage that
will take weeks or months to heal.
Why the injury is caused is debated, some claim the cells of the plant are damaged
because the water in the leaf tissue is frozen and the tissue is brittle. Others believe that the crystallized water
punctures the grass blades in thousands of places causing wounds that cannot heal. Whatever the cause, the damage cannot
be refuted. Injury to frost covered grass will not be seen right away but will be noticeable 12-48 hours after the damage
is done. Often the injured grass will get a purple or black hue. The grass will then turn brown as it dies.
Dead grass will leave areas for weeds to germinate. Damaged grass that does not die will be more susceptible to disease.
To avoid damaging grass that is covered in frost it is important that it not be walked on, mowed or trafficked in
any way. Frost will quickly melt once the sun rises. Low lying areas and areas in the shade or trees and buildings
will be the last to thaw. Have some patience and the grass will appreciate it.
"Stay
Off a Frosty Lawn" - Improving a Lawn - The Lawn Institute - thelawninstitute.org
Be thinking ahead:
We recommend that your lawn be thatched and/or aerated in early spring (March
- April). Thatching is best performed while the grass is still dormant. We recommend thatching your Central Oregon
lawn every year, if not every other year. You may rotate thatching one year and aerating the next. These are important
routines to develop for the healthfulness of your lawn. Due to our High Desert climate, we do not get enough moisture
to break down thatch in a timely manner. If allowed to build up, thatch will begin to plug up your lawn and not let
the water, fertilizer, and air get through to the roots. This will have severe effects on your lawns ability to not
only survive, but ward off diseases and pests.
See the Caring for Your Lawn page for more information about thatching
and aerating.
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