Lawn Pigments Explained: Keep Your Lawn Green During Winter

As winter sets in across much of Australia, many lawns start to lose their vibrant green colour. While warm-season grasses like buffalo, couch, and kikuyu thrive in the warmer months, they often turn pale or straw-coloured when the temperatures drop and growth slows. If you've spent all year maintaining your lawn, watching it fade in winter can be frustrating.

A lawn pigment is a simple, effective way to keep your grass looking lush and green, even when it enters dormancy. In this guide, we'll break down exactly what a lawn pigment is, how it works, when to apply it, and why it might be the easiest winter lawn upgrade you'll ever make.

A lawn pigment is a turf-safe colourant that adds a rich green tone to your grass without stimulating growth. Unlike paint, which coats the blades thickly, a pigment bonds lightly to the grass leaf, allowing it to breathe and photosynthesise as normal. 

In addition to improving appearance, pigments also provide a layer of protection against frost and winter stress by shielding the leaf surface from direct exposure to cold air and UV. That’s why they’re widely used by golf courses and sports stadiums — not just for looks, but to help preserve turf quality through the cooler months.

Lawn pigment works by coating the leaf blade with a concentrated green dye that mimics the natural chlorophyll colour. Once applied and dried, it instantly boosts the appearance of your lawn, hiding yellowing or dormancy without forcing the grass to grow.

Pigments are formulated to:

• Bond evenly to the grass surface

• Resist wash-off from light rain and irrigation

• Fade slowly over time (around 3–4 weeks)

• Enhance contrast and colour even on partially dormant lawns

This makes a pigment a perfect solution for warm-season lawns that naturally fade in winter, especially in cooler parts of Australia.

Pure Colour is a professional-grade lawn pigment designed for home lawns. It offers deep, rich colour that mimics healthy turf and improves the visual appeal of your lawn instantly.

Key benefits:

• Fast-acting green-up with no growth stimulation

• Ideal for buffalo, couch, kikuyu, zoysia, and even ryegrass

• Long-lasting colour for up to 4 weeks

• Rainfast once dry

• Easy to apply with a hose-on sprayer or backpack sprayer

Pure Colour is used across sports fields, golf fairways, and now by homeowners wanting a standout lawn year-round.

The best time to apply a lawn pigment is just as your grass begins to lose colour — typically in late autumn or early winter . You can also apply it any time your lawn is looking dull, patchy, or uneven in colour.

Pigments are most effective when:

• Soil temperatures drop and grass slows its growth

• Your lawn turns yellow or light green

• You want to prep for events or improve curb appeal

Reapply every 3 to 5 weeks depending on weather, mowing, and desired appearance.

Tip: You can use Pigment throughout the year at a low rate to help see where you're going when spraying. 

Yes, once dry. Pure Colour is turf-safe and non-toxic once fully cured. That said, avoid contact while it’s wet, and keep kids and pets off the lawn for a few hours post-application.

To minimise staining, rinse off any overspray from paths or fences immediately, and wear gloves and old shoes during application.

• Always apply to dry grass, not wet or dewy surfaces

• Mow before applying to avoid cutting off fresh colour

• Use consistent walking patterns to ensure even coverage

• Rinse tools immediately after use to avoid staining

You can also combine with Pure Iron+ to deepen colour further.

If your lawn turns pale, patchy, or tired-looking in winter, a pigment is one of the simplest and most effective solutions. It offers instant cosmetic improvement, helps maintain a healthy-looking lawn without pushing unnecessary growth, and gives you back control of how your lawn looks during the off-season.

For Aussie homeowners who want their lawns to look sharp year-round, especially during winter dormancy, applying Pure Colour pigment every 3–5 weeks is a game-changer.