Top Tips for a Healthier Lawn All Year

Many Florida homeowners love having lawns on their properties. Because we enjoy beautiful weather most of the year, it is the ideal climate for enjoying time outside on your lawn with your loved ones. To maximize your enjoyment and comfort, though, it is important to give your lawn the care and attention it needs in order to thrive.

Here are some care tips to help you keep your lawn at its healthiest.

Start with the Right Type of Grass

Having a healthy lawn starts with selecting an appropriate grass variety for the climate conditions here in Florida. We get plenty of sunshine, and many properties are near the coast, resulting in higher salt content in the air and soil. Although the weather can be quite humid, the region is also prone to droughts.

While some grass varieties thrive in these types of conditions, others do not fare nearly as well. If you choose a grass species that is not equipped to handle the conditions here, you’ll have a much harder time keeping it healthy than you will with a more suitable option. St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia, and Bahia grass, among others, all grow very well here in Florida, so these options should be at the top of your list.

Keep Your Lawn Tall When Mowing

When it comes to mowing, aim to keep your grass height at the high end of the recommended range for your grass type. St. Augustine. and Bahia grasses prefer a height of 3 to 4 inches, while Zoysia does best at no more than 2.5 inches. If you keep your grass at the taller end of its healthy range, it will develop a stronger root structure, enabling it to better withstand drought conditions and cold weather.

Particularly in the summer when your lawn’s growth rate is at its highest, it is important to mow frequently. While that may seem counterintuitive to keeping your lawn tall, the two actually go hand in hand. Mowing more than a third of the grass’s height in a single mowing session can stress your lawn, making it more prone to pests and diseases. Trimming smaller amounts more frequently can help keep your lawn at its healthiest while also encouraging strong root systems. Keep your mower blades sharp as well to avoid tearing the grass.

Avoid Over-Watering Your Lawn

Watering too much is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make when caring for their lawns. We get plenty of rain during the summer months here in Florida, so you’ll need to use your sprinklers strategically to avoid over-watering. Throughout the state, the law requires you to have rain sensors on your sprinklers to manage your sprinkler usage around the rainfall, but it is still smart to keep an eye on your watering schedule yourself in case anything goes wrong with your sensors.

In general, it is better to water deeply, but less frequently than it is to provide smaller amounts more regularly. The lower frequency encourages your lawn to plunge its roots deeper into the soil, making the grass stronger and more resilient. When your property receives heavy rainfall, avoid turning on your sprinklers for at least a few days. Watch for the blades beginning to close up or for footprints in the grass to not spring back up rather than following a specific schedule. These are great indicators that your lawn is in need of some water.

Fertilize Appropriately Each Year

Your lawn may require a lot of fertilizer each year or none at all. It depends on the soil composition on your property and what your grass type needs to thrive. Each year, get your soil tested so you know which type of fertilizer, if any, it needs to restore the best nutrient balance for your specific grass variety. At Duda Sod, we recommend the use of slow release fertilizers.

Start Fresh with New Sod

If your lawn has seen better days and these tips haven’t helped bring it back to health, fresh sod can restore your lawn to its former glory. The experts here at Duda Sod can help you select the best type of grass for your yard. Reach out to our team today to learn more and get the process started.