Are you in a warm season region, cool season region, or do you fit into what’s known as a transitional region? While we call them regions, and while you can often draw them on a map, the reality is that climates are different across the length and breadth of the nation. To determine which region you are in, think about how hot and how cold it gets in summer and winter.
If you suffer from ice, snow and severe frosts, you’re in a cool season region. If you experience cool to cold winters with occasional frosts, but no snow, then you are most likely in a transitional region. For most others, you are in a warm season region. Having said that, transitional regions have a tendency to warm or cool regions. For example, you may not have snow but receive regular mild frosts and generally cold days. Your tendency is towards the cool season.
Why is this important? Apart from determining which type of grass grows best, it is also important for understanding when and how to fertilize. Warm season grasses should never be fertilized during the fall. The best time to fertilize them is during the spring. Warm season grasses go through a hardening off process after summer that prepared the grass for winter. In some cases, the grass will become dormant over winter so fertilizer is either wasted or interferes with this process.
Cool season grasses on the other hand need to build a store of food before the freeze commences. These grasses need a good boost of nitrogen so when looking at fertilizers check their NPK levels. The ideal level for a winter grass is around the 30-0-10. Cool season grasses should have bare patches repaired now to be ready for next summer. Use a seeding tool to prepare the ground and sow your seed quite liberally. This will ensure that your lawn is full and healthy when spring regrowth occurs. Know your regions and fertilize accordingly.
