NEW ORLEANS, LA – July 22, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
TurnKey Grass, a sod installation and lawn care company serving southeastern Louisiana, has released a comprehensive guide addressing Bermuda grass dormancy in Louisiana winters, a topic that generates widespread concern among homeowners who watch their lawns turn straw-colored each December and struggle to determine whether the grass is resting or dead.
The publication, titled “Does Bermuda Grass Go Dormant in Louisiana Winters?“, explains the seasonal biology of Bermuda grass in the Gulf Coast climate and provides practical guidance on winter lawn care, spring green-up preparation, and weed management during dormancy. It is the latest in a series of educational resources the company has produced for Louisiana homeowners managing warm-season turf across the greater New Orleans area and surrounding parishes.
“Every winter, we hear from homeowners who are convinced their lawn is dying,” said a representative of TurnKey Grass. “Bermuda grass dormancy is normal and expected in Louisiana. The grass turns brown on the surface, but the crowns, rhizomes, and stolons stay alive underground and are ready to regrow when temperatures climb. Understanding this cycle helps homeowners avoid unnecessary fertilizer applications, overwinter weed problems, and costly re-sodding that simply is not needed.”
The guide outlines the typical dormancy timeline for Louisiana, noting that most Bermuda lawns enter full dormancy after the first hard frost in late November or early December, remain dormant through February, and begin showing green growth again by mid-March in the greater New Orleans area. South Louisiana coastal properties tend to see green-up approximately one to two weeks earlier than north Louisiana, while a late freeze can delay the process by a similar margin. The full active growing season typically resumes by April.
The resource also includes a practical diagnostic method for distinguishing dormant Bermuda from dead grass. Homeowners are instructed to pull back surface blades and examine crown firmness and runner condition at the base of the turf. Dormant Bermuda retains firm, whitish-tan crowns and flexible runners, while dead grass exhibits brown, brittle crowns that crumble under pressure. A scratch test on a runner to reveal green, moist tissue underneath serves as an additional confirmation step.
Weed management receives dedicated coverage in the guide. Common Louisiana winter weeds identified include annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed, and wild onion. A fall pre-emergent application in late September is recommended to prevent germination, and the guide advises that carefully timed low-rate glyphosate applications on fully dormant Bermuda can address escaped weeds without damaging the lawn. Spring green-up techniques are also covered, including scalp mowing to remove brown blades and allow sunlight to reach crowns, along with timing guidance for the season’s first fertilizer application.
The guide also addresses cold hardiness for Bermuda grass varieties suited to Louisiana, noting that newer hybrid varieties such as Latitude 36 tolerate temperatures as low as approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit without significant crown damage when properly hardened before the first freeze. Older hybrid varieties are more vulnerable to extended hard freezes, particularly when soil moisture is low heading into winter. The company recommends a final potassium-rich fertilizer application in early to mid-September to harden the turf and improve its tolerance of cooler temperatures through the dormant period.
TurnKey Grass serves residential and commercial clients throughout New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harahan, River Ridge, Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Slidell, Hammond, LaPlace, and Baton Rouge. The company installs Bermuda grass, Centipede grass, St. Augustine grass, and Zoysia grass, and provides seasonal lawn management consultations throughout southeastern Louisiana.
The dormancy guide is available at turnkeygrass.com. Homeowners seeking a free consultation on Bermuda grass installation or seasonal lawn care may contact TurnKey Grass at (504) 608-1540.
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For more information about TurnKey Grass, contact the company here:
TurnKey Grass
Ana Condit
504-946-7577
info@turnkeygrass.com
New Orleans, Louisiana
