If you’ve noticed your Central Florida lawn looking a little patchy in December, you’re not alone. A common complaint among homeowners is that their grass looks thin and dull, with random bare spots. Even though winter is mild here, the change in temperature, shorter daylight hours and seasonal lawn challenges can all contribute to thin or uneven grass. The good news? Most December patchiness is completely fixable once you know what’s causing it!
Let’s break down the most common reasons — and what you can do to maintain your lawn and prepare it for spring growth.
Common Reasons for Patchy Winter Lawn Growth
- Cooler Temperatures Slow Down Warm-Season Grass Growth
Central Florida lawns rely on warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Zoysia and Bahia. When temperatures drop into the 50s and 60s during December, these grasses naturally slow their growth. Thinning areas become more visible because the lawn isn’t actively filling in like it does in spring and summer.
What to Do
- Reduce mowing to every 2–3 weeks instead of weekly.
- Raise your mower height to leave grass about 3–4 inches tall to help insulate roots from potential cold snaps.
- Keep mower blades sharp to prevent stress.
- Resist the urge to fertilize — you could damage your lawn! The last recommended time to fertilize your lawn in Central Florida is October.
- Shade Patterns Change in Winter
The sun sits lower in the sky in December, which means areas of your yard that get full sun in summer may suddenly fall into shade. Grass in these newly shaded areas may thin out.
What to Do
- Trim tree limbs to allow more sunlight.
- Replace heavily shaded spots with shade-tolerant groundcover if needed.
- Avoid overwatering shaded areas, as they hold moisture longer.
- Lawn Pests Don’t Disappear Completely
While pests like chinch bugs slow down in cooler weather, others — like mole crickets, grubs and sod webworms — can remain active and continue damaging turf.
Signs of insect damage include the following:
- Soft, spongy soil.
- Small moths flying up when you disturb the grass.
- Grass that lifts up easily from the soil.
What to Do
- Have a professional perform a winter pest inspection.
- Spot-treat with eco-friendly products when possible.
- Repair damaged areas early to prevent spring infestations.
- Winter Lawn Diseases Can Create Brown Patches
Cool, moist winter weather creates the perfect environment for fungal diseases like brown patch fungus and dollar spot. These show up as circles or irregular patches of brown, dead, or thinning grass.
What to Do
- Run irrigation only in the early morning.
- Improve airflow by aerating to reduce heavy thatch. Our blog post — “How to Aerate Your Central Florida Lawn” — covers this topic in detail.
- Treat with a professional fungicide if necessary.
- Incorrect Water Scheduling
Many homeowners forget to adjust irrigation for winter. Overwatering is a major cause of December patchiness in Florida, especially with cooler nights. Our blog post — “What You Need to Know About Irrigating Your Central Florida Yard” — covers this topic in detail.
What to Do
- Set the irrigation system to water only once a week if it doesn’t rain. Overwatering during winter exposes the lawn to common Florida lawn pests and fungal diseases, such as brown patch. Follow county watering restrictions, which may change in winter.
- Ensure your irrigation system is delivering even coverage.
- Natural Dormancy in Bahia Grass
If you have a Bahia lawn, patchiness is normal in winter — it naturally goes dormant and loses color and density. Don’t worry. It will green back up in spring!
What to Do
- Avoid overwatering or fertilizing to “force” growth.
- Keep mower height high to reduce stress.
- Consider overseeding with ryegrass for temporary winter color.
The Take-Home Message
If your Central Florida lawn looks patchy in December, there’s typically no cause for concern, unless there is evidence of pest infestation, fungal growth or irrigation issues. However, in most cases, the uneven appearance of the grass is simply due to normal seasonal changes. Just a few small adjustments can help. This way, you can keep your lawn healthy and attractive throughout the season, and ready for a strong revival in spring!
To learn more about maintaining your Central Florida yard in winter, our blog post — “First Winter in Florida? We Answer Your Yard and Garden Questions!” — provides additional information.
Although we’re fortunate enough to not have to deal with blizzards, Central Florida yards need special attention this time of year. Our experienced team at Daniel’s Lawn Service & Pressure Washing Inc. knows the ins and outs of Central Florida’s climate, so your winter yard can be as beautiful as your spring and summer yard when it’s under our care! We will work with you to achieve your goals and bring your vision to life every season of the year! Our full-service company provides landscape design, tree installation, tree trimming, yard maintenance, bush hogging, pressure washing and so much more. Contact us today so we can do the work, and you can do the enjoying!
