Lawn Maintenance Tips for Orlando

Living in Orlando, Florida is a lucky situation for lovers of lush, green lawns. That might seem extreme, but it is true! Orlando is the perfect place for warm and cool season grasses, and if properly cared for, a lawn can be green year-round. There are several basic lawn maintenance tips to follow to keep your Orlando lawn healthy and vibrant.

• Mow your grass at the proper height for the species. Bermuda needs to be kept shorter than St.Augustine. Setting the mower at the proper height helps avoid weed problems, because the grass will shade the soil, preventing weed seeds from sprouting.

• Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time. That might mean that you will have to mow twice a week during periods of heavy rain and fast growth. Removing only 1/3 of the grass blade helps keep the grass healthy and un-stressed.

• Observe and jump on fungal and disease problems immediately. If you notice large brown circles or patches in the lawn, call a certified landscape contractor to help you deal with the problem. In order to correctly treat the problem, you need to correctly diagnose the problem. A certified pesticide applicator can help you diagnose and treat any grass problem properly, and with the least risk to your lawn and you family.

• Water deeply and infrequently. Every single article you read about lawn maintenance will mention this. If it doesn't, be wary of the advice. Watering deeply and infrequently encourages deep root growth for grass plants, and an overall healthier more vigorous plant.

• Fertilize in the fall for root growth and for growth of cool season grasses. About three weeks before your warm season grass goes dormant for the winter, fertilize to promote root growth. A healthy root system for your warm season grass will help it overwinter well and reduce stress caused by overseeding.

• Before overseeding, mow your warm season grass to the lowest point, without killing the grass stems-usually ¾ of an inch. Overseed with a cool season grass and water in. Cool season grasses need more food than warm season grasses, so you will most likely need to fertilize two or three times during the winter.

• Leave grass clippings on the lawn to return nutrients and organic matter into the soil. Grass clippings do not cause thatch problems.

• Aerate in the spring or fall with a punch-core aerator, and top dress with organic matter. This helps reduce problems caused by compaction, and by aerating in the spring or fall, ensures that the grass will not be stressed trying to recover during the hottest parts of the year. Aerating also helps reduce problems from thatch buildup. A great time to aerate in the fall is just before overseeding, as the topdressing of soil can help the cool season grass seeds sprout quickly.

The above tips will help you have a lush, green lawn year-round in Orlando. For more information and a specific lawn-care schedule, contact your certified professional landscape company.