| Lawn Tips |
The following information is designed to assist you in understanding potential
problems that may occur in your lawn.
problems that may occur in your lawn.
| Mowing and Watering Tips. |
Mowing
When you think of your lawn, 'mowing the grass' is likely one of the primary
activities you may associate to the overall maintenance of your lawn.
And rightly so.
Yet many feel that as long as the grass is cut, the job is done.
And that is where many problems arise.
The mowing of your lawn is a "cultural habit." Proper cultural habits are the
most powerful yet most often ignored influences on your lawn's overall
appearance. There are of course minimum watering requirements that if not
met may cause your lawn to yellow, scorch or die, but proper mowing can
greatly effect even these adversities.
For example: how your lawn is mowed-as well as when and how often-greatly
effect your lawn's drought tolerance and watering needs.
By "how" we may refer to the sharpness of the lawn mower blades. This is a
vital point. Also the mowing pattern(s) have a great bearing on the appearance
of your lawn.
One also needs to be aware of the height at which the lawn is maintained as
well as how much is cut at one time. 'Scalping' a lawn may also cause your
lawn to yellow, scorch or die.
Letting a lawn go without mowing for an extended period of time and then trying
to make up for it by cutting it back down to the proper height all at once
damages the turf area and can actually cause the loss of an entire lawn. Never
remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade each time you mow and always use a
sharp blade.
Recommended heights (for Central Florida):
St. Augustine (Floratam, Classic): 3 1/2" - 4"
Bahia (Argentine): 2" - 3"
activities you may associate to the overall maintenance of your lawn.
And rightly so.
Yet many feel that as long as the grass is cut, the job is done.
And that is where many problems arise.
The mowing of your lawn is a "cultural habit." Proper cultural habits are the
most powerful yet most often ignored influences on your lawn's overall
appearance. There are of course minimum watering requirements that if not
met may cause your lawn to yellow, scorch or die, but proper mowing can
greatly effect even these adversities.
For example: how your lawn is mowed-as well as when and how often-greatly
effect your lawn's drought tolerance and watering needs.
By "how" we may refer to the sharpness of the lawn mower blades. This is a
vital point. Also the mowing pattern(s) have a great bearing on the appearance
of your lawn.
One also needs to be aware of the height at which the lawn is maintained as
well as how much is cut at one time. 'Scalping' a lawn may also cause your
lawn to yellow, scorch or die.
Letting a lawn go without mowing for an extended period of time and then trying
to make up for it by cutting it back down to the proper height all at once
damages the turf area and can actually cause the loss of an entire lawn. Never
remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade each time you mow and always use a
sharp blade.
Recommended heights (for Central Florida):
St. Augustine (Floratam, Classic): 3 1/2" - 4"
Bahia (Argentine): 2" - 3"
WATERING
Best Time: Early morning watering will help decrease water waste and
evaporation. This will also help prevent disease. Watering is the most important
practice and a Basic Need.
Amount to Water: 1" – 1.5" per week during the hottest months. Deep watering
is recommended to help stimulate a deep root zone. Applying 1"– 1.5" 3 times
per week will provide your lawn with proper moisture requirements.
Q: How can I tell how much water my lawn is getting?
A: There are measuring devices that can be purchased, but try this: place
coffee cans in various locations around your lawn to measure the total
accumulation. You may be surprised by how little or how much each area is
receiving. This will also tell you if certain zones may need adjusting!
Proper mowing height and proper watering encourage a deeper root system
and a happier healthier lawn.
evaporation. This will also help prevent disease. Watering is the most important
practice and a Basic Need.
Amount to Water: 1" – 1.5" per week during the hottest months. Deep watering
is recommended to help stimulate a deep root zone. Applying 1"– 1.5" 3 times
per week will provide your lawn with proper moisture requirements.
Q: How can I tell how much water my lawn is getting?
A: There are measuring devices that can be purchased, but try this: place
coffee cans in various locations around your lawn to measure the total
accumulation. You may be surprised by how little or how much each area is
receiving. This will also tell you if certain zones may need adjusting!
Proper mowing height and proper watering encourage a deeper root system
and a happier healthier lawn.
WEED CONTROL
The best defence against weeds is a properly maintained, dense, healthy turf.
But when a lawn develops weed issues there are some things we can do.
We use systemic and 'pre-emergence' herbicides to help control broadleaf
weeds, (e.g.dollarweed, dandelion, etc.). Once applied systemic herbicides may
take approximately 3-6 weeks to begin working. Repeat applications are often
necessary to attain satisfactory results. Pre-emergence product applications are
most effective when made at the correct time in the spring and/or fall.
No one can guarantee 100% control of weeds!
If you see a few weeds between services it is best to pull them by hand before
they go to seed and spread. Over application of herbicides can cause serious
damage to your lawn, severely retard its growth or even kill it completely.
But when a lawn develops weed issues there are some things we can do.
We use systemic and 'pre-emergence' herbicides to help control broadleaf
weeds, (e.g.dollarweed, dandelion, etc.). Once applied systemic herbicides may
take approximately 3-6 weeks to begin working. Repeat applications are often
necessary to attain satisfactory results. Pre-emergence product applications are
most effective when made at the correct time in the spring and/or fall.
No one can guarantee 100% control of weeds!
If you see a few weeds between services it is best to pull them by hand before
they go to seed and spread. Over application of herbicides can cause serious
damage to your lawn, severely retard its growth or even kill it completely.
COMMON PESTS and OTHER PROBLEMS
Chinch Bugs:
Chinch Bugs live in ALL Saint Augustine lawns. Damage occurs when the
population swells to levels that your lawn cannot sustain. The Chinch Bug
damages the lawn by sucking the plant juices out of the runners of the turf. It
also injects a toxin into the plant at the same time causing damage to the
infected area. Severely damaged turf may not recover quickly and may need to
be replanted. After the insects are killed the dead grass should be removed
and new sod placed in these areas.
Mole Crickets:
Mole Crickets damage the lawn by feeding on the roots. When the root system
is damaged the plant cannot absorb water and nutrients and the turf goes into
decline. The Mole Cricket is nocturnal and capable of flight. Often you find them
in pools and attracted to exterior light sources.
No one can keep Mole Crickets from landing in the yard, but at appropriate
times of the year we can apply the proper materials to keep the mole cricket
population below damaging levels. Mole Cricket damage, if not severe, will
often recover naturally. In extreme cases some re-sodding or plugging may be
necessary.
Army-Worm/Sod Web-Worms:
Both of these insects cause damage in larval stage(worm). In late summer and
fall you may see adult moths flying about the yard. The moth will cause no
damage to the turf but if they lay eggs in the yard and the caterpillar hatches,
damage may occur. The Web-Worm is a nocturnal feeder so damage can
occur overnight. The Army-Worm feeds during daylight hours and is usually
visible on the grass blade. If it is hot during the day additional damage can
occur by sun scalding. Once the insects are killed, it is recommended that the
lawn be kept irrigated to reduce stress. In most cases, the lawn will grow back
in 2-3 weeks after treatment with all damage recovering.
Fungus:
Fungus is typically an airborne transmitted turf disease. Brown patch and gray
leaf spot are the two we have to contend with most often. Fungus occurs during
warm and humid weather conditions, most noticeably Spring and Fall. Usually
the disease begins as circular patches in the lawn that can rapidly spread to
other areas. Generally the damage will recover after Fungicide treatment,
however, once a lawn has been infected it is susceptible to additional Fungus
activity when conditions are conducive. Watering at night or late afternoon
should be avoided to curtail further Fungus. Fungus problems spread in the
lawn by foot traffic, mowers, and by spores being spread by wind. The only
time a fungus can be treated is when it is active. There are no materials to
treat the lawn to prevent it from occurring. Most damage that occurs from
insect or disease problems will usually recover if it happens early in the growing
season. If the damage takes place toward the end of the season, most
damage may not recover until the next year.
Applying Fertilizer to a lawn is not necessarily the cure for what ails it. Miracles
do not happen over night. Always allow one full cycle of seasons for any bona
fide turf management program to demonstrate its full value.
Chinch Bugs live in ALL Saint Augustine lawns. Damage occurs when the
population swells to levels that your lawn cannot sustain. The Chinch Bug
damages the lawn by sucking the plant juices out of the runners of the turf. It
also injects a toxin into the plant at the same time causing damage to the
infected area. Severely damaged turf may not recover quickly and may need to
be replanted. After the insects are killed the dead grass should be removed
and new sod placed in these areas.
Mole Crickets:
Mole Crickets damage the lawn by feeding on the roots. When the root system
is damaged the plant cannot absorb water and nutrients and the turf goes into
decline. The Mole Cricket is nocturnal and capable of flight. Often you find them
in pools and attracted to exterior light sources.
No one can keep Mole Crickets from landing in the yard, but at appropriate
times of the year we can apply the proper materials to keep the mole cricket
population below damaging levels. Mole Cricket damage, if not severe, will
often recover naturally. In extreme cases some re-sodding or plugging may be
necessary.
Army-Worm/Sod Web-Worms:
Both of these insects cause damage in larval stage(worm). In late summer and
fall you may see adult moths flying about the yard. The moth will cause no
damage to the turf but if they lay eggs in the yard and the caterpillar hatches,
damage may occur. The Web-Worm is a nocturnal feeder so damage can
occur overnight. The Army-Worm feeds during daylight hours and is usually
visible on the grass blade. If it is hot during the day additional damage can
occur by sun scalding. Once the insects are killed, it is recommended that the
lawn be kept irrigated to reduce stress. In most cases, the lawn will grow back
in 2-3 weeks after treatment with all damage recovering.
Fungus:
Fungus is typically an airborne transmitted turf disease. Brown patch and gray
leaf spot are the two we have to contend with most often. Fungus occurs during
warm and humid weather conditions, most noticeably Spring and Fall. Usually
the disease begins as circular patches in the lawn that can rapidly spread to
other areas. Generally the damage will recover after Fungicide treatment,
however, once a lawn has been infected it is susceptible to additional Fungus
activity when conditions are conducive. Watering at night or late afternoon
should be avoided to curtail further Fungus. Fungus problems spread in the
lawn by foot traffic, mowers, and by spores being spread by wind. The only
time a fungus can be treated is when it is active. There are no materials to
treat the lawn to prevent it from occurring. Most damage that occurs from
insect or disease problems will usually recover if it happens early in the growing
season. If the damage takes place toward the end of the season, most
damage may not recover until the next year.
Applying Fertilizer to a lawn is not necessarily the cure for what ails it. Miracles
do not happen over night. Always allow one full cycle of seasons for any bona
fide turf management program to demonstrate its full value.
 |  |  |  |
