Archives

The Advantages of Choosing Bahiagrass for Your Landscape

Lawn Care Tampa | SouthernGreenUSA.comIntroduced to the United States from Brazil in 1914, bahiagrass has become one of the top grass options for Southern states, including Florida. This is a low-maintenance grass that is known for living through even the most extreme summer conditions. Whether you are on the coast or in a rural area, bahiagrass can be a great choice for your landscape.

The biggest advantage of this turfgrass is that it has an extensive root system, which means it can stay strong through extreme drought conditions. Many people who live in areas that have infertile and sandy soils choose this option, as it is able to grow easily without a lot of fertilizer. Making bahiagrass an even more appealing choice, it has very few issues with diseases and, aside from mole crickets, it can stand up to most insects.

When you’re ready to grow your own bahiagrass landscape, you can establish this lawn as sod or seed.  While the sod method is more advantageous to rapid growth, it is generally more expensive and requires more work.  Seed, on the other hand, will take more time to grow, but is less costly. No matter what method you choose, it’s typically best to start the process during the spring or early summer months, before cooler weather will slow down growth.  Once your lawn is in place, contact the Southern Green lawn care specialists for assistance. We offer lawn care in Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, and many South Florida cities. Call us at (866) 767-0772 to inquire about our services and have someone come to your care for your lawn.

Grass Leaf Texture and Your Landscape

Lawn Service Jacksonville FL | SouthernGreenUSA.comGrowing and maintaining a lawn means you have to think about a wide array of subjects, such as climate, location, and fertilization. When people are establishing their Florida landscapes, one thing rarely comes to mind – grass leaf texture. How does grass leaf texture affect your lawn and what options are available to you in the great state of Florida?

There is a wide array of turfgrass leaf textures, including fine, medium, and coarse. These classifications measure the width of the grass blade. On the whole, texture of grass is merely an aesthetic choice. The only place that texture truly matters is on a golf course. As a Florida homeowner, you’ll find that most of the grasses that we can use have a coarse texture, such as St. Augustinegrass, centipedegrass, and bahiagrass. These coarse grasses have what it takes to stand up to the warmer climates. Before choosing a finer texture, take a look at the climate in your area and make sure your grass of choice can grow properly.

Whatever choice you make for your landscape, you can be confident that the Southern Green crew is ready to provide you with maintenance services that are beyond compare. Come to us when you are seeking lawn service in Jacksonville, FL, as well as Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida.

The Essential Nutrients for Your Landscape

South Florida Lawn Care | SouthernGreenUSA.comThere are many tasks you must do to ensure that your lawn looks beautiful. From planting only high-quality grass to regularly mowing your landscape, a little work and elbow grease can make any lawn look magnificent. In addition to offering South Florida lawn care services, the professionals at Southern Green also provide you with the information you need to keep your lawn looking great at all times, including info about fertilization.

As you know, grass grows because it receives nearly all of the nutrients it needs from the soil, the air, and the water. Nutrients such as carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen come from the air and the water, while the soil provides crucial macronutrients like nitrogen, calcium, sulfur, and potassium. These nutrients are absorbed by the roots of your grass. Additionally, micronutrients like zinc, copper, iron, and manganese come from soil. These nutrients are just as important, but are needed in smaller amounts than macronutrients.

If these necessary nutrients are not found in your soil, then you will need to put down fertilizer to help your landscape grow. Before you actually start establishing your lawn, it’s a wise plan to have your soil tested so you know what type of fertilizer you will need to provide the support your lawn needs to grow.

Starting from Scratch – Re-establishing Your St. Augustinegrass Lawn

Lawn Care St. Petersburg FL | SouthernGreenUSA.comFrom large dead spots to constant weed problems, sometimes you have to give up on your current landscape and start again. By renovating your lawn with new grass, you are able to transform a sad, barren landscape into something spectacular with just a little tender love and care.

The easiest way to renovate your lawn is to put down sod in the large, bare areas of your lawn. You can also plant springs throughout the empty spaces, putting down 2-inch plugs every foot. After you have put the sprigs or sod down, you should keep the areas as damp as possible at all times, doing frequent irrigations until the sod has taken root or the runners begin to develop. After that, you should slowly reduce your irrigation schedule but increase the amount of water you use during each session, putting down about three-quarters of an inch of water each time. By following these rules, you should have a nice, lush lawn in no time.

The time to care for your lawn is now! Our Southern Green specialists know your lawn is important, so we always work hard to keep everything looking fantastic. Hire us for lawn care in St. Petersburg, FL, as well as Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, and Orlando.

Weed Problems in St. Augustinegrass Lawns

Lawn Care Orlando FL | SouthernGreenUSA.comHaving weeds in your St. Augustinegrass lawn is frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be! Taking care of these problems is one of the issues the talented Southern Green team can assist you with. When you come to us for lawn care in Orlando, FL, or Jacksonville, Tampa, or Miami, you will be able to give your lawn the nourishment and power it needs to fight weeds.

Typically, most weed problems start when your landscape has not been mowed properly, not received the proper fertilization, or is just simply not being cared for at all. Hiring our team or starting your own lawn management program is the first step to taking care of your weeds. If there is still a problem after you start a program, then you may need to choose an herbicide to get rid of those weeds. Always use a preemergence herbicide for your lawn. The packaging should note that it is made for St. Augustinegrass. Once you have picked the right herbicide, it is vital to apply it around the end of winter. It should be below 85 degrees and not moist out when you apply your herbicide.

Do you have any questions about maintaining your lawn? Call us at (866) 767-0772 today!

Properly Mowing Your St. Augustinegrass Lawn

Lawn Care Jacksonville FL | SouthernGreenUSA.comMowing your lawn is important, but it’s also vital that you mow your lawn to the appropriate length to guarantee that it establishes properly and looks great all year long. The lawn care specialists at Southern Green, the people you rely on for lawn care in Jacksonville, FL, in addition to other cities across Florida, are always working hard to make sure you know everything about caring for your landscape, including St. Augustinegrass lawns.

Once you have established a St. Augustinegrass lawn, you should confirm that the grass is maintained at a minimum of 3 ½ inches and a maximum of 4 inches at all times. If you mow any lower than that, you will lower the drought tolerance and make your lawn more vulnerable to pests or weed problems. When you stick to this mowing height, you will help your lawn establish a deeper root system and improve its color. Furthermore, you should sharpen your blades on a regular basis. If you mow with dull blades, the dull cuts will make your lawn look brown and unsightly. All of the color maintenance you do goes right out the window when you cut with a dull blade.

Invest in your landscape today and come to Southern Green to learn more about our custom lawn care programs.

What to Look for When Nematodes Infest Your St. Augustinegrass Lawn

lawn pest control jacksonville flIf you have had a St. Augustinegrass lawn for a while, then you know very well that there are several types of nematodes that can infest your landscape. Dealing with these creatures can be complicated because they are hard to see or not existent to the human eye.

Nematode problems typically occur around late April and early May, as well as late August and early September. Symptoms of nematode damage include issues like thin sand density, weakened root systems, and slow growth, as well as slow recovery time following rain or irrigation. To properly determine that you are dealing with a nematode infestation, you need to have a sample of your soil tested via a laboratory test.

If your test comes back positive, there are a variety of ways you can fight the infestation. Raising your mowing height, irrigating less frequently but with more water, and making sure you use potassium and phosphorus on your soil are all excellent ways to help eliminate the infestation.

When you are dealing with pests in your lawn, the talented specialists at Southern Green are available to help you. We offer lawn pest control in Jacksonville, FL, as well as Orlando, Tampa, and throughout South Florida. Call us today at (866) 767-0772 to inquire about our outdoor pest services.

Establishing a St. Augustinegrass Lawn

lawn care tampaStarting a new lawn is a great way to improve your property value and impress your neighbors. Starting a St. Augustinegrass lawn is an excellent project, as this grass is perfect for nearly any Florida lawn.

Experts typically recommend establishing a St. Augustinegrass lawn in the spring or early summer. The reason behind this is that is allows the grass to properly grow and take root before the winter slows down the growth of the grass. There are many different ways to grow your grass, including sodding, sprigging, and plugging. Sodding is typically the best option, as it allows you to have an instant lawn.

Once you have put your grass down, it is vital that you water the grass as often as possible. You should try to run your irrigation system in short, repeated sessions throughout the day. This will help the root system establish and become viable. Once the roots have gotten a chance to really get down into the soil, you can start mowing your landscape.

From lawn care in Tampa to pest control services in Jacksonville, Southern Green provides exceptional lawn services throughout the state of Florida. We are available to fertilize your lawn, take care of your shrubbery, and make sure that your overall landscape looks magnificent.

St. Augustinegrass Cultivators Part 2

lawn care jacksonville flIn our last post, we highlighted a few of the great St. Augustinegrass cultivators available for your landscape. Today, we are sharing some more selections! Choosing St. Augustinegrass for your lawn does not mean that you have to have the same landscape as your neighbors. Check out these cultivators to make your lawn standout from the crowd:

Seville – This cultivator is a semi-dwarf, fine-leaf variety of St. Augustinegrass that has a dark green color and low growth habit. Because this cultivator has a compact growth habit, it is prone to thatch and typically has shallow rooting.

Bitterblue – For a grass with a fine, dense texture and a dark blue green color, Bitterblue is the cultivator for you. People have been using this variety of St. Augustinegrass since the 1930s, as it has good cold and shade tolerance.

Floratine – An updated version of Bitterblue, this cultivator is known for its fine leaf texture and short growth habit that allows for closer mowing than common St. Augustinegrass. The characteristics are so similar to Bitterblue, many have problems telling the two apart.

Invest in your property when you choose lawn care services from the crew at Southern Green. We have more than 17 years of experience providing personalized lawn, shrub, and outdoor pest control services to homeowners throughout Florida. Come to us for lawn care in Jacksonville, FL, as well as Miami, Tampa, and Orlando.

St. Augustinegrass Cultivators Part 1

lawn care aerationA lot of people use St. Augustinegrass for their Florida landscapes, but did you know that there are many different types available? Whether you are looking for selections that have a lighter leaf color or are interested in grass that doesn’t grow aggressively in winter temperatures, the options available are plentiful. Take a look at some of these great cultivators:

Floralawn – Establish a landscape that is resistant to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and brown patches when you choose this selection for your lawn. This cultivator should be grown in mild environments, as well as in full sun or moderate shade.

Palmetto – This cultivator is known for its excellent growth habits and being able to grow in full sun or partial shade. People like to choose this cultivator because it has shorter leaf blades and internodes than most other cultivators.

Delmar – Great shade tolerance, a dark green color, and wonderful cold tolerance are just some of the great features of this cultivator. That said, it is known to have a slow lateral runner growth and is susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and brown patch disease.

Finding the right grass for your landscape can be complicated, so, once your landscape has been established, don’t let it die! The dedicated team at Southern Green is available to help. We provide a wide array of lawn services, including lawn care aeration, fertilization, and pest management services. Contact us at (866) 767-0772 to request assistance in Jacksonville, Orlando, and South Florida.