Buresh Blog: Southern snowfall... Dormant yards... Sunset times... Prescribed burns... Feb. averages

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Last week’s winter storm across the South left more snow than many more northern cities have had all winter so far:

But the cold snap is not all bad news for Jacksonville/NE Fl./SE Ga.:

Yards are brown & not particularly “pretty” after the cold temps. But in many cases lawns are simply dormant & will typically recover as temps. warm. To know the difference with St. Augustine grass:

As we move out of the “nadir” of winter, our daylight is increasing & sunsets are now after 6pm:

‘Tis the season for prescribed burns. From the St. Johns River Management District:

Prescribed fire is the use of carefully planned fire purposefully set under stringent conditions to manage the fire’s effects. Before conducting a burn, the District ensures that wind and other weather conditions are correct for managing the fire and minimizing the impacts of smoke to residents and traffic.

Periodic prescribed fires on District lands enhance the land’s environmental quality and protect its neighbors from destructive wildfires, but not without the possibility of temporary nuisances, such as smoke and ash.

Prescribed fires help prevent wildfires by burning off fuels that naturally build up over time, while also helping to manage the growth of woody shrubs.

In fire-dependent ecosystems, fire is nearly as important as rainfall and sunshine. The benefits of prescribed fire include restoring and maintaining natural communities, reducing chances of destructive wildfires, perpetuating fire-adapted plants and animals, cycling nutrients, managing tree diseases and opening scenic vistas.

Follow the District on social media to know when prescribed burns are taking place in your area. To learn more about the District’s prescribed burn program, visit the District online at www.sjrwmd.com/lands/management/prescribedfire or follow the conversation at #LoveYourLands #RxBurn #goodfire #sjrwmd.

You may frequently see e a lot of smoke in the air in the coming months. Generally the smoke is not dense enough persistent enough to cause health issues or poor air quality.

As we turn the calendars to the second month of the year... averages for February at JIA: