Alan Titchmarsh outlines how to fix grass patches

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The cold weather of the winter months means that your lawn will likely falls into an almost dormant state. This is part of the natural cycle for grass, allowing it to hibernate through the harsher season until the weather begins to improve.

Some gardeners may find it difficult to tell the difference between dead and dormant grass.

In some cases, your lawn may begin to turn brown, which could be alarming.

Although dormant turf is not necessarily the nicest to look at, brown blades are not uncommon during this time.

However, brown grass can also be a sign that your lawn has died off.

So how can you tell whether your grass has died off or whether it is simply dormant during the winter months?

Check how easily grass can be pulled from the soil

According to experts from Master Lawn Inc, one way to tell whether your lawn is dead or dormant is by conducting “the tug test”.

The experts said: “Find a section of brown grass, grab some in your hand and pull.”

Dormant grass should have some resistance as you pull the blades.

However, the lawn experts added: “If the grass comes out easily with no resistance, it is dead.”

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Look for patterns in your lawn

One key thing to look out for is whether your entire lawn is brown, or if the darker colour is appearing in patches.

When the entire lawn is brown in colour, this is likely to mean it is dormant rather than dead.

However, smaller areas or circles of brown grass can mean these spots are dead.

How to keep your lawn healthy during the winter

While mowing your lawn is not necessary during the cold winter months, there are some ways you can look after your grass.

One way is to maintain a watering schedule, particularly during dry weeks when there has not been much rain.

According to experts from Green View Fertiliser, around half an inch of water, every two weeks is enough to keep your lawn alive.

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The only time your lawn is likely to grow during the winter is on warmer days or streaks of mild weather.

Even then though, it is important to keep mowing to a minimum to protect your grass in case a frosty burst arrives.

Experts also advise reducing foot traffic on your lawn during the winter season and trying to remove leaves and debris where possible.

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