Why Your Lawn hasn't Greened-Up Yet

Partially dormant lawn

It's springtime and with the warm daytime temperatures, you probably expect your lawn should be fully out of dormancy by now. However, we've been noticing a number of yards around Middle Georgia that haven't greened-up all the way yet. You may feel concerned if this is the case in your yard, but don't panic. It probably isn't anything to be concerned about. In this post, we're going to take a look at what could be keeping your lawn from fully exiting dormancy during this time of the year. We'll also discuss some things that you should be keeping an eye out for as your yard continues to wake up.

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There are several factors which influence how soon your lawn comes out of dormancy. Two primary factors are nighttime temperatures and the type of turf that comprises your lawn.

​In the video below, Bryce Kirkpatrick, our turf program director, explains some things that can influence the green-up process.

Understanding the Turf Growth Process

Turf growth is a science. People build entire careers studying and researching what factors influence turf growth. Turf grasses do most of their growing during the night. The nighttime temperatures have the greatest impact on turf growth, as well as determining when dormancy ends and begins.

One obvious reason for this trait's existence is to protect the grass and insure its survival. During the transition from winter to spring, it's common in many areas for daytime temperatures to be warm and pleasant while nighttime temperatures drop near or below freezing. If the turf came out of dormancy based on average daytime temperatures, it would be at risk of damage from cold conditions during the night.

​Middle Georgia is well-known for having a wide range of temperature variations during the transition from winter to springtime. This is especially true when comparing daytime temperatures to nighttime temperatures. It's not uncommon for us to experience temperatures of 70-80 degrees during the day, and then drop to 40-60 degrees or lower that night. These nighttime temperatures have the greatest impact on when the turf exits dormancy, which is why your lawn doesn't green up on the first warm week of spring.  

Different Kinds of Turf

The kind of turf you have can effect when it greens-up

There are many different varieties of turf grass. Some varieties are more cold-tolerant than others. This causes different types of turf to exit dormancy at different speeds, especially when the temperature gradually increases rather than making a large jump up all at once.

If your lawn is the last one on your street to green up, find out what type of turf you have if you don't know already. It is likely a variety of turf that prefers warmer temperatures and has less tolerance to the cold. This can be the reason why your neighbor's lawn may be totally green when yours isn't. Don't get worried right away. Just give it some time and watch for warmer weather.

When to be concerned

It is perfectly normal for your lawn to be slow to turn green in early spring. There are some things to keep an eye out for as your lawn comes out of dormancy. If your lawn isn't showing any signs of greening-up once nighttime temperatures are consistently staying in the upper 60s and above all night long for more than a week, then it is time to call an expert.

​Also, you should watch for circular brown patches in the turf once the rest of the lawn is green. This could be a sign of fungal or disease issues. These issues can usually be treated by a professional lawn treatment service when caught early.

We're here to help!

Have a concern about your turf? Feel free to reach out to us! Our experts will be glad to take a look at your lawn and help you determine what's normal and what is potentially a problem. If there's an issue, we can will find the solution and get it taken care of for you. If you have a concern about your lawn, you can also submit a turf issue  to our experts online!