If you’re asking how to keep your lawn green in winter, we have the answers for you! Let’s dive in. Just like humans, lawns like to hibernate when the cold of winter hits. They don’t curl up on the lounge wrapped in a hoodie, but they do stop putting too much effort out just the same. Winter can also be tough on turf generally. Lawns can be impacted by frost, weeds, reduced sunlight and intermittent rain. But that doesn’t mean you can’t keep your lawn looking vibrant through winter. And even lay the groundwork for the warmer months to come. Here are our top tips for how to keep your lawn green in winter:
How to keep your lawn green in winter
Some lawns, such as Sir Walter DNA Certified Turf, are more likely to stay a vibrant green all year round (with a little winter TLC). But pretty much any lawn can look absolutely fab if you follow our tips.
Slow down your mowing routine
Lawn growth slows down in winter and may even stop altogether. You may not need to mow at all. Keep an eye on your grass. If you feel it needs a trim, don’t cut it as short as you would in warmer growing months. It can help to adjust the height on your mower blades. Taller leaf blades develop deeper roots and help to promote photosynthesis, which is important for winter thriving. When you mow in winter, keep the catcher on or rake up the clippings when you’re done. This will maximise the winter sun on the leaf blades. For more mowing tips, head over to How often should I mow my lawn.
Identify your problem areas
As mentioned above, Winter will make your lawn sparse and reveal any damaged patches or problem areas. Now is the perfect time to use a bit of lawn seed to fill the gaps. Make sure you get your turf growing again before laying down any pre-emergent herbicides and avoid heavy traffic in the areas you wish to re-establish. Growth will be a bit slower above ground in the winter so take that into consideration when filling up those patches.
Let the sunshine in
To help keep lawn green in winter, maximise the amount of sun on your winter lawn. Clear away any obstructions. Rake up autumn leaves. Tidy away – or regularly move – play equipment, bats and balls. And prune any overhanging trees that throw excess shade over your lawn.
Weed, weed, weed
Winter is a great time to remove any weeds that have taken root over spring and summer. And in fact, many thrive in the chilly weather. But it’s important to manage your weeds as they don’t go dormant in the winter. And they will take much needed nutrients away from your lawn. Physically remove any weeds you see, then apply a multipurpose herbicide and fertiliser like Lawn Solutions Oxafert to control the further spread of weeds and give your lawn a boost.
Should I Use a Pre-Emergent in Autumn?
Autumn is an ideal time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide such as Oxafert or Oxafert Plus to help prevent winter weeds from establishing in your lawn. Pre-emergents work by targeting weed seedlings at the germination stage, stopping them before they emerge and become visible. Common winter weeds, including Winter Grass, typically begin germinating in mid to late autumn as average soil temperatures drop below 14°C. Timing your application just before this temperature decline is key, as it creates a protective barrier in the soil that helps stop Winter Grass from taking hold during the cooler months.
Feed your lawn
Just like humans, lawn love a good winter feed. So winter is the perfect time to top up your lawn’s nutrients. Feeding your lawn will help keep it green through winter and support it into the warmer months. Adding nutrients to your lawn can be done in a couple of ways.
Fertilise your lawn
Regardless of the type of lawn you have, a premium lawn fertiliser will give it an extra boost to help keep it looking green and vibrant. The slow-release granules contain trace elements and nutrients which will nourish your lawn all year. ECO 88 Lawn Food by Queensland Organics is specially made for lawns. It helps boost chlorophyll production, which will help it to look green and lush. ECO 88 is in granular form, making it easy to evenly spread and store.
Should I Fertilise My Lawn at the Start of Winter?
Applying fertiliser at the start of winter can set your lawn up for success before the colder months take hold. Addressing nutrient deficiencies now helps strengthen your grass, keeping it healthier, greener, and more resilient throughout winter.
We recommend using Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser, which combines fast- and slow-release granules. This provides your lawn with an immediate nutrient boost while continuing to feed it steadily over the coming weeks, ensuring consistent growth and colour during the cooler season.
For a quick, liquid alternative, Exceed Liquid Fertiliser delivers a fast-acting nutrient lift. It is available in a convenient 2L Hose-On Bottle or a 2.5L Concentrate, making it easy to apply even on larger lawns.
Should I Apply Iron?
Winter is also a great time to apply an iron-based product like Iron Guard Plus. Iron enhances lawn colour, improves grass density, and encourages lateral growth, helping your lawn stay vibrant and strong as it weathers the colder months.
Top dress your lawn
After fertilising your winter lawn, applying a top dressing is a simple way to boost nutrients and support healthy growth as warmer weather approaches. Winter’s slower growth makes it easier to spot problem areas, such as exposed roots or uneven soil. Top dressing not only helps level these patches but also provides essential nutrients that feed your lawn through the colder months, setting it up for stronger, healthier growth when spring arrives.
Time to aerate
Aerating your lawn improves its ability to absorb water, encourages root growth and improves drainage. We normally recommend aerating twice a year – during spring and autumn. But it’s a fantastic tip if you’re asking how to keep your lawn green in winter. So, if it’s something you didn’t get time for, or have never done before, consider doing it now. If you’ve never aerated your lawn before, don’t be daunted. All you need is a garden fork. Drive the fork around 100 mm into the soil, then wiggle it back and forth to break up the soil. Repeat this across your lawn, at regularly spaced intervals. Aerating your lawn is particularly important when your soil is compacted. If your soil is clay-based, your lawn would benefit from a gypsum clay breaker mix. This will improve drainage and aeration.
Should I aerate my lawn in Autumn?
As temperatures begin to cool, it’s tempting to put lawn care on hold until spring, but the actions you take in autumn play a key role in how your lawn performs through winter. If your lawn has experienced heavy foot traffic or you’ve noticed compacted, hard soil, autumn is the ideal time to aerate. Aeration helps relieve compaction and creates space in the soil profile, allowing water, nutrients and air to move more freely to the roots. When soil is compacted, grass can struggle to access moisture and nutrients, leading to weaker growth and reduced resilience. Aerating while the lawn is still actively growing allows it to recover and strengthen before winter, setting it up for healthier turf throughout the cooler months.
Use ColourGuard Plus for visual appeal
During winter, lawn growth naturally slows due to lower temperatures and reduced daylight. While this is normal, it often leads to turf losing its rich green colour and appearing dull or patchy. This is where ColourGuard Plus plays an important role in winter lawn care.
ColourGuard Plus is designed to maintain lawn colour without forcing excessive growth, making it particularly well suited to cooler months when grass is more vulnerable.
Maintains Green Colour Without Forcing Growth
Unlike traditional high-nitrogen fertilisers, ColourGuard Plus enhances lawn colour without stimulating rapid top growth. This helps lawns stay visually healthy while avoiding the stress that can come from pushing growth in cold conditions.
By focusing on colour rather than growth, ColourGuard Plus supports turf health through winter and prepares it for a stronger recovery once warmer weather returns.
Strengthens Grass During Cold Stress
Winter conditions can place significant stress on lawns, especially warm-season varieties that slow down or partially go dormant. ColourGuard Plus helps lawns cope with cold stress by supporting overall turf resilience and leaf strength.
Regular use can help your lawn better tolerate frost, reduced sunlight, and seasonal wear while maintaining a consistent green appearance.
Safe for Regular Winter Application
Because ColourGuard Plus is not reliant on high nitrogen levels, it is safe to use during winter without the risk of burning or overstimulating the lawn. This makes it a reliable option for maintaining colour when traditional fertilisers are less suitable.
It can be applied as part of a winter maintenance program to keep lawns looking healthy without compromising long-term turf performance.
Helps Lawns Look Healthy in Low-Light Conditions
Shorter days and increased shade can cause lawns to lose colour unevenly during winter. ColourGuard Plus helps improve colour consistency across the lawn, even in areas that receive less sunlight.
This is particularly beneficial for shaded lawns, southern aspects, and areas affected by winter cloud cover.
Supports a Faster Spring Green-Up
By maintaining colour and turf health through winter, ColourGuard Plus helps lawns transition more smoothly into spring. Lawns that are less stressed over winter typically respond faster when temperatures rise, leading to earlier and more even green-up.
Using ColourGuard Plus during winter helps bridge the gap between dormant months and active growth seasons.
What about water
In a Brisbane winter, it’s only necessary to water your lawn as required – perhaps once or twice each week. If you’ve not been routinely watering, a sign that your lawn needs water is if it starts to yellow. If that’s the case, take care to deeply water but don’t go overboard.
Give your lawn a deep soak to improve your 'root' work
Adding a wetting agent to your soil in the Winter will improve soil penetration and help moisture get right down to the end of your roots. If you soak your grass deep in the Winter but infrequently, you will find you can train your roots to grow even deeper for a stronger hold in the Summer. This is especially a great idea if you do a lot of summer entertaining or your kids like playing in the yard; it will give your lawn that extra hold against high foot traffic.
For more guidance, read our post How Often Should You Water Your Lawn. Wondering how to keep your lawn green in winter? We can help you to get Brisbane’s best lawn and keep it looking lush and green through winter. Visit our product info page for everything you need to keep your lawn green, vibrant, and well nourished, ready for the warmer months. Keep your eye on our how to page. You’ll find helpful blog posts like this one, and more. If there’s anything else, get in touch with our expert team at Rock’n’Soil, anytime.