Winter Grass

When I moved to Arizona, I thought I had left behind the dream of lush, green grass. Summer in the desert is a scorcher, and most lawns turn to crunchy patches of brown or are replaced entirely by gravel. But then I discovered winter grass.

It felt like a secret—this idea that while the rest of the country hunkers down for snow and frost, Arizona lawns can come alive in the winter. Rich green blades, cool morning air, and a yard that looks like it belongs in the Midwest. This is my third year planting winter rye, and I think I’ve finally got it down.

Every October, I scalp the summer grass and spread the seed like I’m painting a canvas. I’ve learned the timing, the watering schedule, and even which fertilizer gives it the deepest green. But the best part? The mowing.

I mow it twice in two different directions to give it that striped, ballpark look. It’s the closest I’ll get to groundskeeping for a major league team, and every time I finish, I stand back and admire the lines like a proud artist. There’s something satisfying about creating beauty where most expect dirt and dust.

Winter grass isn’t just lawn care—it’s a little rebellion against the desert. A reminder that even here, in the land of cacti and sunburns, a splash of green can thrive.