We love our lawns. And in Florida, we can have them all year round. But, of course, it takes some maintenance if you want to keep them green, lush, and healthy, but much of the rest of the country doesn’t even have the option.
We touched on lawn maintenance in our last blog about general landscape maintenance. But today, we’re getting into the weeds of it. Want Custom Acres to make your neighbors green with envy over your lawn? Here’s how we do it.
In the Morning Hour, We Cried “Mow, Mow, Mow”
We all know that lawns need mowing. So be honest, when you read the title of this blog, you probably automatically finished it with the word mowing or pictured a lawn mower in your head.
But lawn maintenance is more than mowing. That said, mowing is a significant factor in maintaining your lawn, and many of the other maintenance areas in this blog will also touch on mowing.
Keeping your lawn pretty involves regular mowing, but you don’t want to cut it too short or leave it too long. Too long grass attracts pests, and too short can scalp the lawn.
Scalping happens when the grass is cut down below where it can successfully grow again. Often the sun plays a factor in how short is too short because too much heat on short-grass will turn it brown without the possibility of recovery.
Have You Ever (Not) Seen the Rain?
Along with the sun, your lawn’s other basic need is water. And while we get plenty of it for most of the year around here, that doesn’t mean it always comes at the right time.
It’s essential to monitor the amount of water your lawn is getting and
water it when it’s not getting enough natural moisture from the rain.
Our irrigation systems are an excellent solution for ensuring your lawn
always gets the water needed to thrive without getting too much.
Too much water can be as big of a problem as too little.
Because overwatering can cause drainage problems and erosion, make sure you speak to Custom Acres about how much water your lawn needs if you don’t already have it covered.
Your Hot or Your Cold (Season Grasses)
Knowing your grass helps you to understand how to treat it. Because of our subtropical Floridian climate, numerous grass species thrive here. Each has its own set of watering, mowing, and fertilizing needs.
One of the most fundamental divisions of grass species is warm or cool weather grasses. You may think that we only have warm-season grasses in Florida, but that’s untrue. Some cool-season grasses grow well in Florida.
Tall Fescue is an example of cool-season grass that does very well in Florida. So you can see how it’s essential to do your research.
Hey, You, Get Off of My Lawn
While the above heading might bring up an angry man yelling at the neighborhood kids, we think part of enjoying your lawn is gathering on it. That said, keeping an eye on the state of your yard after a lot of foot traffic is part of what Custom Acres does for you.
Also, our love of garden party guests doesn’t extend to inanimate objects. So make sure when your guests leave, nothing else is left behind. In warm weather, leaving unneeded items on your lawn can quickly kill your grass, so make sure any lawn furniture you set up temporarily goes back safely into storage.
We also clean up any debris from other plants on your lawn. We strongly recommend a seasonal clean-up.
In The Air Tonight
Lawns need air! They might not have lungs in the traditional sense, but they do require air to get to them for their growth. In addition, densely packed soil also makes it difficult for water and fertilizer to reach seeds and roots.
For all of those reasons, aeration is vital to your soil. Making room in your soil is a seasonal maintenance task that helps to improve your lawn health.
I Can Seed for Miles
After aerating your lawn, the next step is overseeding – which is just what it sounds like! Overseeding involves adding seeds back to your yard to help new grass grow. The reason overseeding is best after aeration is that the space has already been made for the new seeds to find a home.
Let It Grow
When feeding your friends outside in your yard, please spare a thought for the grass on which they’re standing. Your sod needs food too, and we provide it in fertilizer.
When you fertilize your lawn matters, which is another place where knowing your particular grass comes in handy. Fertilization is best performed just before the primary growing season. Different grasses have their main growing seasons at different times.
Mowing On The Edge
All good things must come to an end, or at least an edge. And endings lead to new beginnings. So what I’m saying here is that you need to have a clear line between your flower beds, other gardens, and your lawn.
Edging is an integral part of lawn maintenance. We create a clear edge between the different areas of you your yard.
Blinded By The Light
You don’t want every party to end at sundown, so we provide (nonblinding) landscape lighting to keep your lawn and gardens looking great into the evening. If you want your lawn to be THE gathering spot, ensure you can see it during gatherings!
I Wanna Be, Your Lawn Mower (Why Don’t You Call My Name?)
Lawn maintenance is a complex and varied process that differs from
yard to yard as sure as the residents’ tastes. Anyone who tells you there
is one way to take care of your grass is probably just talking about the one way they take care of theirs.
That’s why it’s so beneficial to have an expert provide Custom solutions for all your outdoor needs! You’re not on your own. Give Custom Acres a call.