After weeks of arctic chill, warming trend will give our grass a boost

After several rounds and weeks of unusually cold weather across Southwest Florida, much of the region’s warm-season turf has gone into dormancy.

Bermuda grass, commonly found on golf courses and residential lawns, has been especially affected.

Dormancy is not death. It is a survival strategy. During extended cold snaps, Bermuda grass blades turn brown and growth nearly stops, but the plant’s roots and stored energy remain alive beneath the surface, waiting for warmer conditions to return.

Bermuda grass grows best when daytime temperatures are between 80 and 95 degrees. Growth slows once temperatures drop below 65 degrees, and dormancy typically begins when daytime highs stay under 60 degrees and nighttime lows fall below 50 degrees.

Weeks of temperatures meeting these conditions, along with occasional frost, have accelerated dormancy, leaving brown turf visible across Southwest Florida yards and golf courses.

The good news is warmer weather is on the way.

WINK News Meteorologist Zach Maloch says daytime highs are expected to climb back into the 70s this week, with overnight lows mostly in the 50s and 60s. This marks a welcome change from the late January and early February cold air that kept highs in the 60s and pushed nighttime temperatures into the 30s and 40s.

With more seasonable temperatures, consistent sunshine, and highs in the 70s, soil temperatures will begin to rise. Turf specialists say that once soil temperatures stabilize near or above 60 to 65 degrees and nighttime lows no longer drop too far, Bermuda grass begins to wake up. Metabolism resumes and green color slowly returns.

For golfers and homeowners, early signs of recovery often appear first in sun-exposed, south-facing areas. Shaded or compacted sections may take longer to recover until soil temperatures become more uniform.

As the forecast continues to favor dry, mild conditions with limited rain, the gradual warming trend could set the stage for a true spring green-up if cold fronts stay away.