Should I leave my grass clippings on the lawn or should I have a catch bag on my mower?
If you are mowing frequently enough, it is best to leave the clippings on the lawn to recycle the nitrogen in them. This can be as much as 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year- the equivalent of 1 to 2 fertilizations per year). Mow often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the ...
- I have read about this wonderful miracle grass Zoysia. Is it as good as the advertisement says?
Due to over-enthusiastic newspaper advertisements, the public has been misinformed on the merits of zoysiagrasses. Zoysias have advantages and disadvantages as do all lawn grasses. The improved zoysias have to be propagated vegetatively and are extremely slow in becoming established. An entire ...
- What causes the yellow spots in my bahia lawn even though I fertilize it.
Yellow spots or streaks that do not turn brown quickly usually indicate an iron deficiency. In the warm months bahiagrass grows so rapidly that it often cannot pick up iron from the soil as rapidly as new growth is produced, resulting in the iron deficiency symptoms you have seen. Iron deficienc ...
- Where can I go in Pinellas County to have my yard soil tested?
The University of Florida Extension Soil Testing Laboratory in Gainesville does offer soil pH and soil fertility tests, but usually pH or fertility problems would not be the main cause of rapidly dying grass. Diseases, insects and cultural problems like watering problems are more likely causes. ...
- We have an in-ground sprinkler system in our yard. How many minutes should we set the controller for each zone to run?
Sprinkler system designs vary greatly, so the only way to know how many minutes to set each zone to run is to perform a calibration. Calibration measures the precipitation rate of each zone to help you determine how many minutes to set. You will want to apply approximately ¾” of wat ...
- What products are currently available to me for controlling chinch bugs on my St. Augustine lawn?
The following active ingredients are recommended to control these pests: Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Lambda-cyhalothrin, and Permethrin. These individual ingredients can be found in a number of Florida Registered Products including, but not limited to, Scott’s Lawn Pro ...
- I need to plant some groundcovers to replace sod under a large oak tree. Can you make any suggestions?
Any of the following should work well for you: Cast Iron Plant - Aspidistra elatior Holly Fern - Cyrtomium falcatum Algerian Ivy - Hedera canariensis English Ivy - Hedera helix Liriope - Liriope spp. Sword Fern - Neprolepsis exaltata Asiatic Jasmine - Trachelospermum asiaticum Society Ga ...
- Moles are making tunnels in my lawn. Will they kill the grass, and how can I get rid of them?
The damage caused by moles is almost entirely cosmetic. Although moles are often falsely accused of eating the roots of grass and other plants, they actually feed on the insects causing the damage. The tunneling of moles may cause some physical damage to the root systems of ornamental or garde ...
- What can I do to control weeds in my St. Augustine lawn besides spraying chemicals?
A healthy lawn that is properly mowed, fertilized, and irrigated will generally out-compete most weeds. Here are a few tips for care that will help maintain good health: Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time. Cutting too much of the blade will stress the lawn by reducing it ...
- When I find a patch of dead grass in my St. Augustine lawn, what can I do to determine the cause?
Dead areas of turfgrass are usually the result of one, or more, of three factors – disease, insects, and poor cultural practices.Brown patch is a fungus disease most likely to be observed between November and May when temperatures are below 80 degrees. It is normally not seen in the summe ...
- My St. Augustine lawn has patches of clover growing here and there throughout the grass. What can I do to control this?
Most weeds that appear to be clover in local lawns are actually oxalis, also known as wood sorrel. These small, perennial plants have 3-parted leaves, yellow flowers, and creep across the lawn. If it weren’t growing in and competing with the turfgrass, it might be considered attractive. Go ...
- When would be the best time to reseed my Bahia grass lawn?
Bahia is a warm season grass, making April through June the best time to sow seed. This allows for a full growing season before cold weather arrives and takes advantage of the rainy season. Poor germination may be caused by too low temperatures (85 and above is optimal) or drying of the seeds in ...
- What is the best fertilizer to use on my St. Augustine grass?
Select a product which has the same percentage of nitrogen and potassium and with low or no phosphorous such as a 15-2-15 (15% nitrogen, 2% phosphorous and 15% potassium) or a 15-0-15. Products with analyses like 16-4-8 have been recommended for years. However, the current thinking is to use equ ...
- What can I grow in place of St. Augustine in full sun?
Here are two alternatives: Mimosa strigillosa ( Sunshine Mimosa) will work well. It is a Florida native ground cover. Rapidly growing, 4 or 5 pots will cover 200-300 sq. feet in a growing season. It has a dense growth habit, reaching a height of only 2-3 inches. The one-inch purple powder-puff f ...
- Weeds are slowly, but surely, beginning to enter our St. Augustine lawn. What kind of cultural practices can I perform to make sure they don’t spread?
A healthy lawn that is properly mowed, fertilized, and irrigated will generally out-compete most weeds. Here are a few tips for care that will help maintain good health: Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time. Cutting too much of the blade will stress the lawn by reducing it ...
- What is the best type of sod for a shaded back yard? Should we add a layer of topsoil first?
It might be wise to reconsider your plan for turfgrass and think of shade tolerant groundcovers instead. Since southern lawns require a minimum of 5-6 hours of full sun daily, adding turf to this shady location would likely be a waste of money. Instead, select from Asiatic jasmine, bromeliads, c ...
