Dealing with Weeds in Bermudagrass

South Florida Lawn Care | SouthernGreenUSA.comWeed problems are a reality that every homeowner must face. They are unsightly and can appear at any time of the year. It doesn’t matter if you live in a nice, quiet suburb or are located in an urban area, weeds have spent many years evolving – giving themselves the ability to grow in any location.

When you are dealing with weed problems in bermudagrass, it’s typically a sign that your landscape has become weakened by pest problems or the wrong lawn care practices. One of the first things you should do is review your fertilization, watering, and mowing practices to make sure you are doing everything properly. Once you have reviewed your methods, you should also inspect your landscape for signs of pests, such as brown spots. If pest control and new management practices do not take care of the problem, you can invest in herbicides that are created specifically for bermudagrass. These herbicides are available for both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control.

If you can’t take care of the problems yourself, you can request lawn treatment services from Southern Green. We offer Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida lawn care services, as well as landscape pest control assistance, that are customized to your landscape.

Dealing with Fire Ant Stings

Fire Ant Control Orlando FL | SouthernGreenUSA.comFire ants seem to exist only to ruin a good time. Whether they are in your lawn or have made their way into your home, it’s vital that you do something about it before they attack you and your family.

These ants sting because they are sensitive to vibration. When fire ants get on your leg or arm and you move, at least one of these insects will start to bite and sting. Once one ant does it, the rest of the ants are triggered to have the same response. These stings are not lethal, but it’s important to note that about 1% of the human population is hypersensitive to ant venom and can experience lethal reactions.

When you are stung, there is not much you can do except clean the area and stay alert for any effects, such as shortness of breath, sweating, or any other typical allergic reaction. If anything seems wrong or you don’t feel right, it’s important that you seek medical attention immediately. Medical experts will be able to treat the problem and stop any possible allergic reactions.

The team at Southern Green can assist you with fire ants, providing fire ant control in Orlando, FL, as well as Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa. Contact us today to learn more about how we get rid of fire ants on your property.

Nitrogen and Your Florida Landscape

Lawn Care St Petersburg FL | SouthernGreenUSA.comHelping your turfgrass grow means investing in a good fertilizer. Whether you live in North Florida and have a St. Augustinegrass landscape or are a Miami homeowner with a zoysiagrass lawn, using a nitrogen-based fertilizer is a great way to care for your turfgrass.

Nitrogen is a good fertilizer for most Florida grasses as it helps them survive in the mostly sandy soil. Most experts recommend that nitrogen be applied at least two times a year and as many as eight times, depending on your location and soil composition. The number will vary, depending on your grass and its needs. It is vital to monitor the grass after nitrogen is applied. If you put too much on your grass, it could leak into ground waters. You should plan on using a nitrogen fertilizer in times when your grass is not dormant. Furthermore, using nitrogen during the summer can make your landscape more susceptible to pests and disease.

The specialists at Southern Green know all about fertilizers and are available to start taking care of your landscape. We offer lawn care in St. Petersburg, FL, as well as Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. When you want talented professionals taking care of your lawn, you can rest assured that you have come to the best when you come to Southern Green.

The Disadvantages of Choosing Bahiagrass for Your Landscape

South Florida Lawn Care | SouthernGreenUSA.comWhenever we cover grass choices, it’s important to understand that as great as a turfgrass may seem, there are also disadvantages that go along with it. Before you establish a bahiagrass landscape, there are some disadvantages you should consider.

One of the most common complaints about bahiagrass is that it is not as dark green and dense as other popular Florida turfgrasses. In fact, this grass is known to form ugly, large seedheads throughout Spring, Summer, and Fall. Because of this, you can count on spending more time mowing your lawn.  You will also need to make sure that your lawnmower blades are always sharp- bahiagrass is known to be tough. Other common issues people have with this grass include its coarse texture, poor performance in high-pH soils, and susceptibility to the growth of weeds in sparse areas. Before making a decision to invest in bahiagrass, you should speak to a professional about your landscape to see if this grass is right for your needs.

Establishing a great lawn can take a lot of time, effort, and money.  That’s why it’s so important to choose a reliable provider that will help you keep up with your investment. Let Southern Green provide amazing services for your property, including North, Central, and South Florida lawn care services. Review our services and discover what our team can do for you!

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.