How to Keep Lawn Colour Through Cold and Wet Winter Weather

Struggling with lawn colour in winter? Discover how to protect your Couch, Kikuyu, or Buffalo lawn from Adelaide’s cold winter conditions with expert winter lawn care tips, including frost protection, traffic control, and maintenance advice.

Summary

Winter in Adelaide brings cold, wet conditions that can quickly rob your lawn of its vibrant green colour. With Couch, Kikuyu, and Buffalo grasses now in dormancy, preserving colour through the season is about prevention—not growth. In this blog, we’ll show you how to protect your lawn from wear, frost, and winter maintenance mistakes so it looks its best come spring.

This week has certainly been cold—and potentially wet! With most lawn varieties now entering winter dormancy, it's not unusual to see grass lose colour and even turn to mud if you're not careful. So, how can you preserve your lawn’s appearance through the depths of winter?

The reality is, once temperatures drop below 18°C, there's little you can do to improve lawn growth or performance. The better question to ask is: how can you preserve what colour you have until spring arrives?

Why Lawns Lose Colour in Winter

The most common lawn types in Adelaide—Couch, Kikuyu, and Buffalo—are warm-season grasses. According to turf expert James B. Beard, “Warm season turf grasses are those species having an ambient temperature optimum of 26 to 35 degrees Celsius.” As temperatures fall below 26°C, growth slows down, and by 18°C, it virtually stops altogether.

These grasses won’t bounce back until temperatures rise again in spring. That’s why maintaining colour through winter is less about what you add, and more about what you avoid.

Let’s look at three key areas that can impact lawn colour during winter:

1. Wear and Tear

One of the biggest threats to lawn appearance in winter is overuse. Since your lawn can't repair itself until warmer weather returns, any damage—whether from foot traffic, pets, or backyard sports—will remain visible.

It’s not about banning lawn use altogether. But if you start seeing worn patches or discolouration, consider reducing traffic where possible. Clint Eastwood’s line in Gran Torino might come to mind: “Get off my lawn!”—but let’s not go that far.

Also, be mindful of drainage. Wet or boggy areas wear faster and recover more slowly. Still, if your lawn was healthy heading into winter, it’s unlikely to suffer permanent damage. Once the weather warms up, it will bounce back.

2. Frost

Frost is a natural part of many Adelaide winters and can quickly sap the colour from your grass. When blades freeze, their cells become damaged—especially in warm-season varieties that aren’t frost-tolerant.

If frost is forecast, there’s a trick to reduce damage: turn on your irrigation for 10 minutes just before sunrise. This melts ice gradually and helps prevent the cell damage caused by rapid thawing. No irrigation system? Use a garden hose to lightly mist the lawn before the morning sun hits.

We’ll talk more about frost later in the season, but keep this tip in mind as mornings get colder.

3. Maintenance Mistakes

We say it every year—and it’s still true: don’t mow your lawn too low in winter. Scalping removes what little green colour remains on the surface, and it won’t come back until spring. If anything, raise your mower height by a notch to help retain colour.

Also, avoid fertilising during winter. It won’t hurt the grass, but it also won’t do much good while the lawn is dormant. Save your fertiliser for early spring when the soil begins to warm up again.

Other Winter Challenges

• Poor drainage – leads to boggy areas that discolour and wear faster.
• Increased shade – less sun means slower drying and more stress on the lawn.
• Moss and algae – thrive in damp, shaded areas and can displace grass.
• Grass variety – some types naturally hold winter colour better than others.

Want to dive deeper into these issues? Check out more lawn care articles on our blog, or get in touch. If you’ve got a winter lawn challenge, we’re here to help—email us at info@paulmunnsinstantlawn.com.au.

FAQs – Winter Lawn Care in Adelaide

Q: Why does my lawn lose colour in winter?
A: Most Adelaide lawns are warm-season varieties like Couch, Kikuyu, and Buffalo. These grasses slow down and go dormant as temperatures drop below 18°C, resulting in colour loss.

Q: Will frost kill my lawn?
A: No, but it can damage the blades and cause discolouration. Regular frost exposure won’t kill your lawn if it’s healthy going into winter, but it may look brown or patchy until spring.

Q: Can I fertilise my lawn in winter?
A: It’s best to wait until early spring. Fertiliser won’t harm a dormant lawn, but it won’t have much effect either since growth has slowed down significantly.

Q: Should I keep mowing in winter?
A: Yes, but raise the mower height. Cutting too low can scalp the lawn and remove what colour is left, which won't return until temperatures rise again.

Q: What can I do if my lawn turns muddy in winter?
A: Focus on improving drainage and reducing foot traffic. Avoid walking on saturated areas and consider aeration or topdressing to help water drain more effectively.