Winter damage can be minimized by: 

• Raising the cutting height during late summer or early fall 
• Providing proper nutrition to build carbohydrates
• Increasing bentgrass population
• Encouraging rooting 
• Reducing late fall irrigation to help decrease internal water in the plant 
• Ensuring proper surface drainage

Apoplasm is the first compartment encountering environmental stresses and is important for plants tolerance to low temperature. Research data demonstrated an ameliorative effect of Si under both chilling and freezing stresses via modification of biochemical properties in the leaf apoplasm.

Harsh Winter conditions can severely stress turfgrass. Dehydration and ice cover are key threats. When the plant has access to mono-silicic acid it is deposited in plant tissues as amorphous silica gel, strengthening the cell walls similar to the way framing out a building helps it withstand the elements. 

Silica is the drywall. So, when winter conditions cause dehydration within the leaf tissue, the amorphous silica gel prevents the collapse of the cell walls.

Building root mass for carbohydrate storage after a tough summer is also another benefit of silicon that will prevent winter damage.