As we are now entering a Florida winter, how should people take care of their lawns while still protecting the springs? Should you fertilize or water your lawn in the winter months?

I personally don’t fertilize my lawn in the winter or summer. I have a Florida Friendly lawn around my house. I never fertilize my grass and I have a great lawn.

My lawn is full of a variety of low growing grasses and flowers and tons of earthworms underneath that enrich the topsoil as they bring nutrients to the surface. I have a lot of shade from tall cypress trees so the lawn does not burn up in the summer.

I never water my lawn either. In the winter I let it turn a golden brown and go dormant. Still while the grass may appear dormant, there is a lot going on. Flocks of birds visit to search for earthworms and other nutritious critters. As they poke little holes in my lawn they are actually helping my lawn breathe and the roots underneath are still growing stronger getting ready for spring.

Also since I don’t use pesticides or herbicides on my lawn there is an abundance of earthworms and critters living in the topsoil and deep underground. There is a vast network of underground tunnels and passageways building going on everyday underneath Florida-Friendly lawns all over Florida, helping the soil breathe.

This is what we can call a healthy lawn that provides food for birds and other critters while looking great and beautiful in front of our houses. I also have two bird baths and out the window in my office I can see different birds visit often. It will be quiet, then all of a sudden a whole group of similar birds will show up to drink water and take baths. They always look so happy.

Another reason not to use fertilizer or toxic chemicals on your lawns is that weather can be unpredictable and once we get hit with a rainstorm, lawns can pool up and flood very easily. That allows water molecules to dissolve, pick up and carry contamination from pesticides, herbicides and excessive nutrients into our ground water and ultimately coming out of our springs creating toxic algae blooms.

I have a degree in Organic Chemistry and my mind sometimes thinks of things on the molecular level when I try to understand water issues. Matter is conserved, meaning that things can break down, but the atoms and molecules are still with us, just sometimes in different formations. I believe we still don’t fully understand what effect long term use of pesticides and herbicides that are very complex molecules have on our water quality as they break down into more simple molecules.

Watering too much in winter can definitely cause problems. Since the grass isn’t actively growing, the soil can easily become oversaturated, leading to root rot and fungal diseases. Cold wet soil also makes roots more vulnerable to frost damage if temperatures drop below freezing. Trying to keep a lawn green all winter by overwatering or over-fertilizing can end up weakening the grass and make it less healthy in the spring.

A Florida natural lawn, which avoids excessive fertilization, pesticides, and water use, has many benefits. It supports wildlife. Native plants and untreated grass attract birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. It creates a habitat for insects and animals that thrive in Florida.

By not using synthetic fertilizer or pesticides, you prevent harmful chemicals from running off into nearby waterways, protecting ecosystems like springs, rivers, and aquifers, reducing pollution. Native grasses are adapted to Florida’s climate and require less water, reducing strain on local water supplies.

Natural lawns encourage biodiversity in the soil, improving its health and nutrient content. This makes it healthier soil and more resilient over time, along with cost savings for the homeowner as you save money on lawn care.

Natural lawns are more resilient to drought, grasses like Bahia grass are more drought-tolerant and can survive periods of low rainfall better than non-native species. There is less mowing required compared to heavily fertilized lawns, making them easier to maintain.

Florida Friendly lawns also provide a surprising amount of food, like seeds. Bahia grass and native wildflowers produce seeds for many birds such as sparrows, finches and doves. Insects like beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers are vital food for birds, frogs and small mammals. Insect-eating birds like robins and bluebirds thrive off natural lawns.

The worms and soil creatures in lawns free of synthetic chemicals support healthy soil that provides food for ground-feeding birds like ibises and sandhill cranes. By going Florida-friendly and encouraging a diverse ecosystem, your lawn can become a valuable feeding ground for local wildlife while requiring fewer resources to maintain.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As more people help stop polluting our waters, the less there will be for us to clean up in the future. One Rake at a Time removes invasive plants that are full of nutrient pollution a rake full at a time, thus leaving our springs a little bit cleaner everyday we work.

To learn more visit our website OneRakeataTime.org and see some of our new videos we are putting up to show our work. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all, and a big “Thank You” to all who help.

Sincerely,

Art Jones