Why Your Grass Turned Brown After a Frost in Manatee County
If you’ve noticed your lawn turning brown after a recent cold night in Manatee County, don’t worry — this is a very common issue during Florida winters. In most cases, the grass is not dead and will recover on its own once temperatures warm back up.
Understanding what frost does to your lawn can help you avoid unnecessary stress, damage, or costly mistakes.
How Frost Affects Florida Lawns
Most lawns in Manatee County are made up of warm-season grasses, such as St. Augustine or Bahia. These grasses thrive in heat but are sensitive to cold temperatures.
When a frost occurs, moisture inside the grass blades can freeze. This damages the leaf tissue, causing the blades to turn brown or dull in color. While the grass may look unhealthy on the surface, the roots and crown of the plant are often still alive.
In addition, cold weather causes warm-season grass to slow its growth or temporarily go dormant. During this time, the lawn stops producing new green blades, which makes frost damage more noticeable.
Is the Grass Dead or Just Dormant?
In most cases, frost damage in Manatee County is cosmetic. Here are a few signs your lawn is still healthy underneath:
Browning appears evenly across the lawn
Grass blades feel brittle, but the base remains intact
You can see green near the crown when you part the grass
If the roots are still healthy, the lawn will typically green back up once daytime temperatures rise consistently.
What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Do After a Frost
After a frost, how you treat your lawn matters just as much as the weather.
Avoid these common mistakes:
Walking on the lawn while it’s frosted (frozen blades break easily)
Mowing too soon
Applying fertilizer during cold weather
Instead, do this:
Wait for warmer temperatures before mowing
Allow the lawn to recover naturally
Resume fertilizing only once active growth returns
Patience is key. Cutting or fertilizing stressed grass too early can slow recovery.
When Will the Lawn Turn Green Again?
In Manatee County, lawns often begin to recover as soon as temperatures stabilize. You’ll usually notice green growth returning first in sunny or protected areas. Once spring weather settles in, most frost-affected lawns rebound fully without any long-term damage.
When to Call a Professional
If browning persists well into warm weather, or if you notice patchy damage, thinning areas, or signs of pests or disease, it may be time to have a professional take a closer look. Frost damage can sometimes reveal underlying lawn issues that were already present.
At Westfall’s Pest Control, we help homeowners identify what’s really going on with their lawn and recommend the right next steps — without guesswork.