01/23/2026
❄️ LTA WINTER PREP: PROTECTING YOUR TURF & LANDSCAPE ❄️
The Louisiana Turfgrass Association wants to ensure our members and homeowners across the state are ready for the upcoming hard freeze. When temperatures drop into the teens, a little preparation today can save you thousands in repairs and replanting this spring.
Follow this LTA Prep Guide to safeguard your outdoors:
Drain & Insulate Irrigation: Water trapped in pipes will expand and burst.
●Drainage: Turn off your controller and drain any above-ground pipes or backflow preventers.
●Insulation: Wrap exposed valves and backflow devices with insulation foam, old blankets, or specialized covers. Don't forget to disconnect garden hoses!
Once the frost or ice hits: Stay off the grass!
Walking or driving equipment over frozen turf can cause permanent damage to the growing points.
This damage won't show up until spring, usually appearing as dead brown footprints or tire tracks.
Group & Cover Tender Plants: While your turf is dormant, your landscape plants need extra help.
●Cover: Use frost cloths, burlap, or old bedsheets (avoid plastic touching the foliage).
●Mulch: Add a 2–3 inch layer of pine straw or wood chips around the base of shrubs to trap ground heat.
●Put the Fertilizer Away
DO NOT apply nitrogen fertilizer. We want the turf to stay asleep! Forcing new growth right before a freeze is the fastest way to kill a lawn.
LTA Pro-Tip: Take photos of your landscape today. This helps you track which areas survived well and which might need a different approach next winter!
Stay warm and stay safe, Louisiana!
