How Do You Take Care of a Lawn?

Florida's climate can be tough on plants, and especially on lawns. Grass in the Sunshine State has to contend with hot temperatures and potential drought as well as frequent heavy rainfall and excessive humidity!

Our warm weather also creates a haven for bugs and other lawn pests, meaning that Florida's homeowners can face a lot of lawn maintenance challenges. But don't worry! Our lawn care tips and tricks will help you to achieve the lush lawn you've always wanted.

Best Lawn Watering Practice

Irrigation is key for a healthy lawn. However, there is no single answer to how many inches of water per week your grass needs. An irrigation schedule for a healthy lawn will depend on a range of factors.

In general, lawns in Florida are likely to need watering once or twice a week during the summer months. Early morning is the perfect time to water as it allows plants to absorb moisture before it is lost to evaporation.

You may have to experiment to find the right watering frequency for your own yard. Considering the factors below will help you get started, but it's important to inspect grass blades and look for signs of lawn thirst or of overwatering so you can fine-tune the process.

To get started creating a custom irrigation schedule, you need to research the following factors:

• Grass type. Check the irrigation needs of the type of grass you are growing.
• Soil type. Sandy soil drains more quickly than clay soil and will therefore need more frequent watering.
• Sun and shade levels. There will be less evaporation in shady areas, and these spaces may not need as much water as areas in full sun.
• Rainfall. Pay attention to the weather forecast. If it has rained in the last 24 hours, or if it's forecast to rain in the next 24, turn off the irrigation system. Overwatering can damage your beautiful lawn.
• Seasonal changes. During the winter months, warm season grasses often go dormant in North and Central Florida. This means they will not need watering more than once a week even when it doesn't rain.

Once you've taken these things into consideration, you can start to experiment. Signs that your lawn needs watering include folded grass blades and a tendency not to spring back quickly after the lawn has been walked on. If your grass turns a blue-grey color that's another sign that you may need to water the lawn soon. Brown patches are a sign of stress or drought.

Conversely, sparse growth, excess runoff or a spongy texture underfoot can mean grass has been overwatered. If grass changes color to a pale green or yellow, that can also mean too much water.

How and When to Mow Your Lawn

Regular mowing is one of the most important things you can do for your lawn. This is because mowing stimulates grass growth. Proper mowing can help with weed control and will even make your yard less attractive to pests such as bugs and rodents.

Follow these helpful tips to keep your lawn healthy with a regular mowing schedule!

• Follow the Golden Rule of Mowing. Also known as the one third rule, this simple principle involves cutting off only one third of the height of your grass. This approach will give you a neat, healthy lawn without putting undue stress on the grass. Mower height is almost always adjustable, so you should be able to set the right height to keep your lawn healthy.
• Ensure you have sharp mower blades. Dull blades can tear grass leaf blades, resulting in frayed, browning grass blades and leaving leaf tissue susceptible to disease. Sharp blades, on the other hand, create a clean cut that heals up quickly, reducing the risk of disease.
• Pick the ideal time to mow your lawn. Believe it or not, the time of day can make a difference! Experts recommend mowing between 8 and 10am. This leaves time for the dew to dry; mowing wet grass can result in smothering clumps of wet grass clippings and adds to the risk of soil compaction. Avoid mowing during the hottest part of the day, or during a drought, when your grass is already under extra stress.
• Create a seasonal mowing schedule. Check your grass type and find out when its dormant period is. Most warm-season grasses grow prolifically during the summer months; the growth rate then slows to almost nothing during the cold weather of winter. Cool season grass species have two peak growing seasons, during spring and fall. Mowing frequency needs to be increased during peak growing season.
• Don't forget to mulch grass clippings. Experts now recommend leaving grass clippings in the lawn as organic matter to decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil.

Feeding and Fertilizing Your Lawn

Fertilizing your lawn at the right time of year will help to ensure that your grass has enough of all the nutrients it needs. This will promote healthy grass growth, strong grass blades and healthy roots, all of which will contribute to your lush, beautiful lawn.

For a comprehensive guide, check out our post on how to fertilize your lawn. Here is a summary of the main things you need to know:

• You should start with a soil test to check your soil type and the pH value of your soil as this will determine which nutrients you need to add.
• Choose the best fertilizer for your lawn. You'll need to take into account your soil type as well as the grass species you are growing. Then you can work out what ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium you need to add.
• Check for any local fertilizer ordinances. Many Florida counties prohibit the use of certain types of fertilizer during the rainy season to avoid excess runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus, which can cause big problems for the aquifer and local ecosystems.
• Apply the correct amount of fertilizer. Calculating the correct amount means you won't risk over- or underfertilizing your lawn.

Weed Control

Weeds are simply plants that are growing where you don't want them.  If you're aiming for a lush lawn of beautiful green grass, anything else that grows in that area is a weed.

The best way to avoid weeds is to have a regular lawn care regimen as detailed above. This should result in a thick, healthy lawn. There will be little chance for weeds to grow in a well-maintained lawn as thriving turf will create enough shade to prevent any other seeds germinating in the soil between grass blades.

Weakened turf is likely to be susceptible to weed invasion because plants will be able to grow in gaps between grass blades. Here are some tips for keeping turf strong:

• Avoid under- or overwatering.
• Frequent mowing is important, but don't cut too close to grass roots.
• Mow with a sharp blade.
• Avoid excessive vehicle or foot traffic. This can result in compacted soil, making it harder for grass roots to grow healthy.
• Choose a suitable grass species for the climate and soil type in your area.

Call in the Professionals

If creating the ideal lawn maintenance schedule seems overwhelming, there's always the option of calling in a lawn care specialist to help you out. Our experienced team at LawnMore Gainesville can offer a regular lawn care routine or help with landscaping your beautiful, Florida-friendly lawn to add curb appeal to your property for years to come.

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