Everything You Need to Know About Preparing Your Florida Lawn for Summer
Making sure your lawn is prepared to thrive and survive Florida heat is a top priority for many homeowners near Kissimmee and surrounding areas. There are many things your lawn needs before summer kicks into high gear. From fertilization and preventative weed control to mowing and watering, we’ve compiled some of our top lawn care tips for making sure your lawn is set up for success.
Preventing Weeds in Your Lawn with Pre-emergents
Each season in Florida comes with its own challenges when caring for your lawn. Weeds vary depending on the time of year and seem to find their way into your lawn and landscape whether you like it or not. The best way to control weeds in your lawn is to get ahead of them with pre-emergent weed control. Pre-emergents are seasonal preventative weed control products that are built to stop upcoming weed germination beneath the soil. Pre-emergent treatments applied during spring are the key to ensuring your lawn is protected from an influx of aggressive summer weeds. While pre-emergents cannot prevent every type of lawn weed, they do a large part of the work by stopping common weeds before they sprout. Preventative weed control will make managing summer weeds in Florida much easier come July!
Soil Testing and Fertilizing Your Florida Lawn
Another key factor to a lush Florida lawn is making sure your soil and grass are healthy. Lawns require various nutrients to thrive. Some nutrients come naturally from the environment, and some come from proper lawn fertilization. To break it down simply, fertilizers contain 3 main elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen benefits the grass itself by promoting leaf and shoot growth and enhancing color. Phosphorus benefits the soil and promotes better root growth, which is why it is especially beneficial for new sod lawns. Potassium benefits the overall health of the lawn as it improves vigor and heartiness. Potassium can help improve disease resistance and protection from stressful weather conditions. Choosing the right fertilizer depends on your grass type, environment, season, and other factors.
If you have struggled in the past to maintain a healthy green lawn, you may need to consider testing your soil first. Soil testing is easy and can provide valuable information regarding the health of your Florida lawn. By providing a sample of your lawn’s soil to your local extension office, you can see a full breakdown of your soil’s pH and what important nutrients are lacking. Healthy soil and lawn fertilization are crucial to getting the rich, green Florida lawn we all want!
Thatch Removal and Lawn Aeration
Removing thatch in your lawn is a spring maintenance practice that may be the ‘reset’ your Florida lawn needs. Thatch is a built-up layer of organic debris that forms at the base of your lawn’s surface where your grass meets the soil. Not all lawns require dethatching but when a thatch layer becomes too thick, it will hinder your lawn’s health. Over time, your lawn can develop thatch from mowing, grass clippings left on the lawn, foot traffic, and outdoor activities in the Florida sun. Removing thatch is important because it blocks sunlight, water, nutrients, and oxygen from being absorbed into the lawn. Lawn aeration can help alleviate thatch build-up. It is highly recommended every spring to boost your lawn’s health, efficiency, and resiliency. There are several different types of aeration. The process involves perforating small holes in the lawn soil that encourages roots to spread and grow more deeply. Ensuring important nutrients can reach the soil will have a direct effect on your lawn’s health and appearance this summer.
Hiring a Local Lawn Care Professional to Take Care of Your Central Florida Lawn
Florida homeowners near Kissimmee, Melbourne, and surrounding areas looking to skip the DIY lawn care route can trust the pros at Pearce Lawn Care. Since 1994, Pearce Lawn Care has provided local Florida lawns with high-quality lawn fertilization and weed control programs. We also offer mosquito control, aeration services, and pest control programs to help our customers reclaim their outdoor space. Contact us today for a free lawn care quote and lawn inspection.