The time has finally come to begin planning your fall Gainesville landscaping tasks with Fall just around the corner. It may not feel like it, but cooler days will be here in a month or so, and evening temperatures are already on a downward slope. Get ready for fall landscaping activities by planning for and scheduling tasks those hard-to-get-to tasks now.

Schedule the projects, purchase supplies, and plan what your priorities are -although the actual work won't begin just yet. You will be fertilizing your lawn, monitoring lawn pest and weed activity, and dialing in irrigation schedules. You may also choose to add some fall seasonal color or add new shrubs and trees.

Plan Cool-Season Annuals
Right now, your warm-season annuals are still looking good. Angelonia, torenia, vinca, zinnias, coleus, and caladium are blooming well. In our Gainesville, Florida lawns, these will continue thriving into mid-October. Depending on if you're using Fall color such as Mums or moving straight to Pansies and Petunias, you can delay purchasing and installing cool-season annuals until November. For Mums it would be an earlier timeline though.

If you like to grow flowers from seeds, however, now is the time to start thinking about it, especially if you plan to order supplies and seeds online. Setting up your seedling areas can be a project if you want to sow lots of seeds. This can also be a great project for kids to see as the plants grow.

Consider these Gainesville area cool-season annuals for your flower beds:

Snapdragons, Pansies, Violas, Mums, Petunias, Phlox, or Sweet Pea

Fall Gainesville Lawn Fertilizing
Be ready for the year's last round of nitrogen feeding in September or October. General garden fertilizer is suitable for most trees and shrubs (12-4-8 or 15-5-15 or 15-4-8) and your turf mix would vary depending upon your grass type - St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Centipede.

For tree and shrub fertilization (Ornamental fertilizer), spread it evenly on the ground under the tree out to the drip line (edge of the outer mimbs of the trees).

For lawns, look the turf fertilizer depends on your breed of turfgrass. St. Augustine and Bahia get their final feeding of the year in September; Zoysia and Bermuda will be later in the year, although continuing to feed other micro and macro nutrient s is important for root density and health through the winter. 

Add New Shrubs
Want to add new shrubs or flowers? Fall is the perfect time. If you wait until October when the days are cooler, the planting process doesn’t stress shrubs as much, and our winters aren't extreme so it gives new plants a long time to adjust and root before the next heat wave of summer.

Use September as the month of ground prep for new shrubs. Get rid of all weeds, either by hand-picking or spraying weed contorl. Remove plants that are failing. Dig up the soil and turn it over, adding enriching amendments such as cow manure (purchased in a bag at a nursery or garden center), grass clippings, wood chips, straw, and wood ash.

The ground will be ready for installing new shrubs in late September or October. Fall is also a good time to add new trees.

Keep a Watch for Pests
Until the days really cool down, pests remain active. On shrubs and plants, keep a watch for aphids, mites, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Crape Myrtle's will regularly struggle with black sooty mold from Aphids,

As for your Gainesville lawn pests, look for chinch bug damage (dry patches by concrete and curbs), moths fluttering in the lawn (which is the adult sod webworm), and their damage of chewed leaf blades. Leave the beneficial insects alone: lacewings, spiders, mantids, and ladybugs. These good bugs eat the destructive ones. You can also look for lawn fungus, leaf spot, and melting out this time of year as well.

Turn on Irrigation as Needed
Early September may still see afternoon showers. As the fall progresses and less rain falls, homeowners should be prepared to turn on irrigation systems more fequently. Fortunately, many systems are equipped with rain sensors or smart controllers to keep them from running too often. However, the grass still needs monitoring to ensure that it is receiving enough water. 

I hope this is helpful as you plan your Fall Landscape To-Do List. Let us know if we can help your Gainesville lawn or landscape in any way by calling/texting (352) 378-5296 or emailing us at info@themasterslawncare.com.

Like your body, your lawn requires regular water to stay healthy. It’s that simple, really - but there are a few important best practices to know before just running your Gainesville, Florida sprinklers.

1. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF IRRIGATION?

Your lawn loves about an inch of water each week, on average. Some full sun areas require more and deep shaded areas need less, but 1" is about average. In many areas of the U.S., rainfall is plenty, but in Florida's drastic heat and weather changes - we go from needing are sprinklers to run more to needing an improved drainage system to manage all of the rainwater in the span of months.

Typically, spring is a Gainesville Irrigation system's prime time due to high heat and low rainfall. That whole "April showers brings May flowers..." is not typically a good description for Gainesville lawns. Summer's rainfall typically are enough to keep an established lawn healthy without too much additional work by the irrigation system - but this does go in spurts based on our unique weather patterns.

We recommend irrigationg with these rough guidelines:

• 10-25 minutes on fixed spray head zones (that do not rotate)
• 35-85 minutes on rotating head (rotor) zones
• 60-90 minutes on drip tube zones
• 1x per week in winter starting around 6-8am
• 2x per week in the growing season starting around 3-5am
• Use the seasonal adjust function to increase in dry spells and decrease in rainy seasons
• Verify your weather sensor is functioning correctly 2x per year to shut off during rain or frost (or verify WiFi connection for internet weather control if using Hunter's Hydrawise system)

This is the biggest reason client's lawns struggle - improper watering. Homeowners overwater their lawns in winter (causing lawn diseases and inviting webworm damage) and then underwater in spring (causing drought stress and chinch bug damage) because they use a "set it and forget it" mentality.

2. DON'T SET IT AND FORGET IT

Set it and forget it doesn't work with irrigation systems unless you have the most-recent technology to-date such as a WiFi Hydrawise controller, and even then it isn't 100% auto-run, although it is as close as we've ever been. It's more like today's new car systems, that warn you if you're driving outside the lines or coming up on someone too fast. It isn't completely self-driving, but we aren't far from it.

Due to the weather consistently changing, we have to know our irrigation systems' functions to really have a lawn that is it's healthiest. Changing settings within the guidelines listed above as the weather changes is a very good start to taking full advantage of your sprinkler system's strenghts to get the most out of your lawn.

3. WATERING DEEP MATTERS

Less frequent, but deeper watering can build heartier, healthier roots. Water as needed but aim for no more than two times a week, unless you have new landscaping that neeeds watering more often to get established. The Alachua county code regulates this as well. Watering deeper and allowing more time between waterings allows the roots to stretch for water deeper into the soil and causing a stronger lawn over-all. Think of it like lefting weights to stress your muscles, and how that stress makes them stronger and larger. Roots work very similarly. However, just as you can strain your muscles putting them under too mcuh strain, the same can be said for lawns.

More lawn watering tips:

Water early in the morning as possible, whenever you can, between 6AM and 10AM.
Don’t water so long that water is cascading down the street; it’s wasteful. Some lawns that are on slopes can use "soak times" or MP Rotator nozzles to get the right amount of water down without wasting it.
If a brown area of your yard doesn’t respond to watering, there may be a bigger issue like lawn disease, poor water coverage, or pet damage at play.
Don’t water in the evening, for it puts your lawn at risk for disease except in the case of extreme drought.
PRO TIP: Watering in the early morning allows your lawn to dry fully in the sun during the day which can prevent certain fungal diseases that arise due to an overly saturated lawn.

2 STEPS TO KNOWING HOW MUCH WATER YOUR LAWN NEEDS

• Measure your sprinkler output using an inexpensive rainmeter placed in the lawn near the water source, or you can DIY this yourself by using a plastic cup or an empty tuna can with a one-inch level noted with a permanent marker.
• Take note of how long it takes for the rainmeter, plastic cup or empty tuna can to fill to the one-inch mark in the dryest areas of your lawn. This gives you a rule of thumb for how long you should water in that zone, so you can set your sprinkler zone to this amount of time. (We still recommend adjusting seasonally)

We hope this blog is helpful in learning how to properly water your Gainesville lawn. If we can help you with your Gainesville, Fl sprinkler system or Gainesville lawn concerns, give us a call at (352) 378-5296 or email info@themasterslawncare.com.

5. Mulch up your grass clippings

Skip bagging your grass clippings. Instead, mulch them into your lawn, where they'll decompose, adding nutrients into the soil. This will save you work and make your lawn more healthy!

Word to the wise: If your lawn is full of weeds, then your clippings will most likely be full of weed seeds. If you don't want to sprout new weeds, stick to bagging your clippings until you get your weed problem under control with a Gainesville weed control company.

4. Aerate your Lawn

Of course, grass needs sun and water to thrive, but turfgrass also needs air. That’s why it’s important to aerate your lawn if you notice that the soil has become compacted. Aerating your lawn, either with a push aerator or a gas-powered aerator will allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate to the roots of your turfgrass, helping it to flourish. Renting an aerator is usually more expensive than hiring a company to do it for most average-sized lawns, so this is something that you may want to check pricing on before going the DIY route.

3. Water Deeply and Less Often

Unless it's new sod or landscape plants, frequent shallow watering encourages shallow roots and ultimately weakens your lawn and plants. The best thing to do is to water your Gainesville landscape deeply and less frequently. Occasional watering prompts the roots to grow deeper, giving your grass the strength it needs to weather hot conditions. We recommend 2x a week with about 60 minutes for rotor zones and 20 minutes for sprays (in full sun). Here is a tutorial on adjusting your irrigation timer.

2. Test Your Soil through UF-IFAS

Testing your soil every year will arm you with information about its pH, macronutrients, and micronutrients. For a lawn to grow healthy, it usually needs a pH level of  approximately 7. If your soil is too alkaline—if it has a pH level greater than 7—we recommend aeration and milorganite to help bring the pH down (this is common on newer homes built on builder's sand); if it’s too acidic, add lime to reduce the acidity and bring it into balance. These actions will need to be repeated every couple years as your soil will want to return to it's natural pH level. This is why we recommend annual testing and also why we include the initial test in our annual lawn health program. 

1. Fertilize Your Lawn

Usually, your soil is not able to provide all the nutrients your turfgrass needs throughout the entire growing season. That’s why it’s important to fertilize when needed, based upon your IFAS recommendations from your soil test of missing nutrients in the soil. When you should fertilize is determined by the weather as some years it warms up in late February and others it isn't warm until late March. This year, it is the perfect time to fertilize within the next 3 weeks as this last cold front passes through and your turf starts to awaken for spring. 

We hope these 5 tips can help you fall in love with your lawn again this spring! If we can help you with any of the above steps, please don't hesitate to call or text us at (352) 378-5296 or fill out the form above! 

The Angie's List award reflects The Master's consistently high level of customer service and professionalism in the lawn care industry. They have earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award for the 5th year in a row for 2018. This award honors service professionals who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews for the Gainesville, Florida Lawn and Landscape market.

“Service pros that receive our Angie’s List Super Service Award represent the best in our network, who are consistently making great customer service their mission,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “These pros have provided exceptional service to our members and absolutely deserve recognition for the exemplary customer service they exhibited.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2018 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include maintaining an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The SSA winners must be in good standing with Angie’s List and undergo additional screening for proper licensing, insurance, and background checks.

"We are blessed to have a team that is committed to exceeding our client's expectations and profesionalism in our industry," said Rusty when asked about the award. "It's one thing to see your job as to do just lawn spraying, or yard mowing, or planting - but it takes it to another level when you have team members see everyhting they do as a way to serve our clients better- and that's what our team does every day."

Rusty Thompson founded The Master's Lawn Care in 2004 after a negative experience with a couple companies as the president of a homeowner's association, and knew that there was a need in the market for a customer-focused company. The Master's Lawn Care has been listed on Angie’s List for over 8 years, and this is the 5th year in a row to have been recognized with this award.

Service company ratings are updated continually on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. For over two decades Angie’s List has been a trusted name for connecting consumers to top-rated service professionals. Angie’s List provides unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

"I was looking at ways to reduce my GRU bill and noticed a heavy portion of it was our irrigation water usage...I also noticed manually having to adjust the timer based on weather was not realistic. This came to the fore this past summer as we seemed to experience a constant spell of rainy days which meant frequent manual shut downs as well as having to remember to reactivate the system once the storms had passed."

This is just one of many reasons people upgrade their Gainesville Irrigation systems to smart controllers - specifically Hunter's Hydrawise system. 

Rain sensors, an Alachua Country code-requirement on sprinkler systems, work decently enough for shutting down sprinklers when there's been excessive rain. However, weather sensors don't have the ability to:

• Shut the irrigation system down when there's a freeze warning to avoid plant damage and water waste.
• Adjust the water settings up and down based on heat or cool temperatures
• Meter the water and alert you if there's a pipe break or busted head causing a high amount of water flow.
• Turn the irrigation off the morning of a day where there's a 90% chance of rain.
• Allow you to remotely adjust your sprinkler settings based on recommendations from your lawn spraying company.

“Set up was also a breeze; a connection to our WiFi and downloading an app on my phone and we were about done!"

Clients have been impressed with the system capability and especially the savings on their water bill.

“As for how much I saved? I cut my water use on our irrigation meter by $73!”– Jeff

Inspired by Jeff’s story and wanting to conserve water? Call us today for more info on getting started with a Gainesville Smart Irrigation Controller!

October is always that in-between month that feels like one foot is still in summer while the other foot steps toward fall. It’s a great month to add new landscaping such as sod, trees, and shrubs and to start planning for your fall / winter annuals.

It’s finally officially fall, and there are several things you want to be aware of in this transitional season as the owner of a Gainesville landscape. 

Lawns
While we’re still getting some leftover summer afternoon rains, it is typical that we experience a little dry spell between now and winter. It can be a tricky time of year irrigation-wise. If you don't have a smart controller that knows to increase the settings to account for dry weather patterns, watch your turf closely. When you see grass blades folded in half and the overall turf color turning bluish-gray, run the sprinklers and add some extra time to the run-cycle for the next couple weeks to get us through to winter. It's also a season we commonly notice shortcomings in our irrigation systems (adjustments off or lacks of coverage) as the supplemental rains aren't there to cover up the incosistencies. 

Your turf will still be growing in October, but in general shouldn't grow as rapidly as August and September due to the shortening days and lowering soil temperatures. It’s an ideal time to add new turf or replace problem areas that may have struggled due to lawn pest activity, too much shade, weeds, or lack of water.

If you want your grass to be dense and thick, I highly recommend a good dose of lawn fertilizer to help promote root growth and dense growth. Iron will add some deep green color back into your lawn as well, if it's yellowing. Certainly, fall weed control in the lawn is important as dove weed, basketgrass, crabgrass, and Chamberbitter lawn weeds are fighting to take over Gainesville lawns. There is still some lawn pest activitity in October for Gainesville lawns as well, so watch for chewed and browning grass. 

Flowers
Most warm-season annuals are starting to struggle in North Florida with the shorter days and cooling soil temps. In fact, it’s the month to be thinking about transitioning to cool-season annuals and starting to get beds ready for them toward the end of the month. November and December will be the time to plant cool-season annuals. Popular annuals to plant for high-visibility beds and planters are pansies, violas, flowering kale, dianthus, snapdragons, and petunias.

Keep an eye on your perennials to make sure they’re getting enough water. Refresh mulch layers to a depth of 2-4 inches in the fall to insulate soil and weed pressure. Don’t allow mulch to closely surround the base of the plant as that can lead to root rot. Apply a final ornamental fertilizer treatment for the year.

Citrus
A number of citrus varieties will have ripe fruit that’s ready to harvest, including Satsuma, Ambersweet, navels, Hamlin, Fallglo, Robinson, and Osceola. Some fruit is ripe even though it’s green. Don’t wait for it to turn orange. Taste a sample fruit to determine if the crop is ripe and ready to eat.

Do not spray citrus trees for pest control. You shouldn’t have to because by October, pest activity has lessened. Save the spraying for later, after the harvest has been picked as you don't want the treatment to affect the edible fruit.

Trees & Shrubs
October is a good time of year to add new trees and shrubs to your landscaping. The heat, being less intense, won’t stress the plants as much as summer or spring droughts do. They will need to be watered, however, until they’re established. Water daily for a couple of months, then every other day for several months.

Established trees and shrubs should have been fertilized in September. If that feeding was missed, apply the fertilizer in October. A general florida landscape fertilizer (with no weed killer in it) is fine, cast over the ground from the trunk to just past the edge of the leaves. This will help promote root growth and health for a boutiful spring. 

If we can help you with any of your Fall Gainesville Lawn tasks, don't hesitate to give us a call. We offer Gainesville Lawn Fertilization Programs, Landscaping Installations, and Irrigation as well. Our phone number is (352) 378-5296 or feel free to contact us via the form at the top of the page. 

In our irrigation blogs posts, we spend quite a bit of time talking about how to water using the common spray and rotary heads, but in the past cuple years we're seeing more and more drip irrigation systems being installed. I've begun getting questions about where they should be used and how long they should be run for sufficient watering amounts.

Drip and low volume sprinkler systems put water exactly where you want it with virtually no loss to evaporation, which is why we've seen the City of Gainesville and Alachua County EPA recently begin encouraging and sometimes even required them.  

Here are a few tips and tricks regarding drip systems:

• The best use of drip lines is in narrow bed areas that spray heads can't cover well, such as around swimming pools or groundcover beds. Because they put out water very slowly, they are also great to use on slopes.
• Drip irrigation is designed to distribute a consistent amount of water in the soil by watering the root zone completely and regularly. Because of the low amount of water it puts out, drip lines are not as effective when they are run once or twice per week - if the soil dries out, it takes a long time for drip lines to put out enough water to catch back up.
• Our slab foundations need a consistent amount of water at all times which makes drip lines ideal for watering the foundation.
• During the summer, in sunny areas, drip zones should be run no less than an 3 hours per week, per zone total (approx 60 minutes per week 3x a week). Why so much more time than rotors and sprays? Drip zones put out about 15-20% the water those other heads do.
• Drip lines are meant to be covered with mulch or buried. The weakest part of drip lines are all of the connections which are held together with barbs that will sometimes pop loose. If the drip line is left in the sun, the heat on the hose will make it soft and the connections will come apart much more often.
• Because the lines are shallow, they tend to get damaged more often then other sprinkler lines. They are prime targets for aerators, people weeding your beds, or even squirrels that love to chew on anything- so it's a good idea to have your Gainesville sprinkler system inspected several times throughout the year, just to be sure you haven't developed a clogged line or leak in the hose.
• During droughts, most cities exempt drip lines from their water restrictions so if your landscape beds are on drip zones, you can water those as needed without concern for citations from the city.

If you have anyGainesville lawn or landscape questions, give us a call at 352-378-5296 or email info@themasterslawncare.com. We  love to answer your questions and can often use them to help other clients in blogs like this one.

Imagine being at a restaurant, enjoying a meal with a glass of water as your drink. Now imagine that your server adds water to your glass, even though your glass is already full. The water spills over onto the table and eventually puddles down on the floor. The logical thing to do is to fill the glass only when it’s needed, but instead, every few minutes more water in poured into an already full glass. Seems pretty crazy, doesn’t it?

This may seem like a far-fetched scenario, but this analogy is exactly what some homeowners are doing when they over irrigation their lawns in the rainy season. Living in a climate where drought is common, homeowners shouldn't have to rely on memory for when to use their sprinkler system. What we should be doing is irrigating when there is a need for water. It’s better for your lawn, the environment, and your wallet - and the new weather sensors allow just that!

In Gainesville, we’ve arrived at the time of year where near-daily rainfall is the norm and afternoon thundershowers can be relied on like clockwork, and in Florida it’s been a neccessity that every irrigation system have a rain sensor device installed to prevent an irrigation system from coming on when adequate rainfall has occurred.

Rain sensors automatically shut off your system, which saves your water as well as problems in your landscape such as fungus and disease from over-watering. The sensors also continue to suspend automatic watering until the sensor disc has dried out. The disc is set to dry out at approximately the same rate as the soil. So, depending on the amount of rain we get and the sensor setting, your system could be off from just a day to 3 days or more if it continues to rain.

The benefit of it acting like your landscape soil is that it doesn't only turn the system off when it's raining. If it rains heavy at 5pm this afternoon, but the soil is still wet in 2 days when the irrigation is scheduled to turn on, it won't let it waste the water.

You could easily save hundreds of dollars per year with a proper working rain sensor. Many city and municipal water supplies also charge by the gallon for sewer at a higher rate than the initial water usage, so this really more than doubles your water bill.

If you have a rain sensor, make sure to have it tested to make sure it’s working properly. New rain sensors are affordable and typically pay for itself within a few months of use. If you need assistance, our certified irrigation techs are here to help. Give us a call at 352-378-5296.

Related posts:

4 Common Irrigation issues to watch for

Smart Irrigation Month - 3 Tips to Increase Watering Efficiency

July is the perfect time to take stock of your water use and see what changes can save resources and money. Smart Irrigation Month promotes the social, economic, and environmental benefits of efficient sprinkler techniques in your Gainesville lawn and landscape. Led by the Irrigation Association, Smart Irrigation Month gives you the opportunity to make real changes to your water use that can positively affect the environment as well as your GRU water bill.

The Master's Lawn Care can help.

Irrigation Analysis
Finding out how your sprinkler system is performing will allow you to make strategic decisions when investing in upgrades. Our irrigation professionals will review your system, explain water use vs. actual plant needs, and present options for improvement. This gives you the opportunity to weigh costs against future savings so you can make decisions that directly impact your monthly water bill.

Smart Irrigation Technology
Irrigation technology is changing at a rapid pace. Sometimes upgrades to your current system can produce real savings as well as healthier plants. Our irrigation experts are trained on water-saving technology as it is released and can make recommendations for you based on what is proven to be effective. Here a couple upgrades we have done just this month!

• Upgrading a client in Haile from high-volume heads to MP Rotator nozzles that use 50% less water
• Installing Weather Sensors that are linked to the client's WiFi Network reading weather patterns and adjusting your schedule to your lawn and landscape's needs.
• Drip Irrigation tubing in landscape beds instead of spray heads causing wasted water and runoff.
• Smart Controllers that can be controlled from your phone or tablet. 

Sustainable Enhancements
Keep your plants healthy long-term while saving water. By converting turf to Florida-friendly plants, installing drought-tolerant turf such as Zoysia, and utilizing Alachua County's Turf Swap Program, you can count on some significant savings. Our teams can design a water-wise enhancement that fits the aesthetic you are looking for, whether it's a large- or small-scale project.

It’s already been a pretty unique year in our Gainesvile, Florida lawn and landscapes, and there’s still time left for more unusual activity from Mother Nature. But, homeowners and business owners across North Central Florida need to start looking ahead to the fast-approaching dawn of the summer growing season and giving some thought to how to best handle your lawn service in the coming months.

There are four major types of Gainesville grass types that most commonly are seen in our market: 

• Zoysia
• Centipede
• Bermuda
• St. Augustine (we saved the most common for last)

They’re each different, and have their own set of best practices for yearly lawn care. Here’s a brief primer for caring for each of these four grass types as we look forward to the spring thaw:

Caring for Gainesville Zoysia Lawns
Zoysia grass requires a little extra attention, but it can make for a beautiful, lush lawn if it’s properly cared for. Some points to keep in mind about this turf variety:

• Prefers sunny areas, not as successful in shade
• Has good drought resistance (but looks worse in drought!)
• Prefers slightly acidic soil
• Will turn brown while dormant in the winter

To give your zoysia grass lawn the best chance to thrive, follow these simple care instructions:

1. Mow the grass short (between 2-3”)
2. Mow at least weekly (this grass grows quickly and needs to stay short to thrive)
3. Keep your mower blade very sharp (it gets tougher as it grows, so it’s more prone to tearing when hit with a dull blade than other varieties)
4. Maintain about an inch of watering per week (including natural rainfall), don’t overwater.
5. Small, frequent lawn applications of fertilizer during the growing season works best (don’t fertilize too late in the year or your lawn won’t properly go dormant)
6. Keep an eye out for signs of pests or disease (this grass can be prone to some common Gainesville lawn pests and diseases)

Caring for Gainesville Bermuda lawns
Bermuda grass is a tough, durable, and aggressive variety that has a lot of strengths adapted to hot Florida summers. These same qualities can also present challenges if it starts taking over areas where you don’t want grass, like your ornamental hedges, flower gardens, or other turfgrass. Some general highlights of this variety include:

• Highly weed resistant
• Excellent drought resistance
• Prefers direct sun, not nearly as successful in shade
• Handles salt well
• Great traffic tolerance for sports fields and dog parks

Here are some important tips for caring for bermuda lawns in the Gainesville area:

1. Mow the grass very short (1” in most cases)
2. Mow every few days (you never want to cut more than ⅓ of the length of each blade of grass)
3. Recycle the clippings (grass clippings are the very best mulch source for bermudagrass)
4. Maintain about 1” to 1¼” of water per week (including natural rainfall), a little more in very sandy soil.
5. Standard fertilizing works well (just be sure to have your soil tested to verify pH balance prior to treatment)
6. Keep an eye out for signs of pests or disease (while this grass fights off weeds very well, and doesn’t provide an optimal environment for some lawn pests, burrowing insects are still a danger such as mole crickets)
7. Needs to be aerated early in the year

Caring for Gainesville Centipede lawns
Centipede grass is probably the best choice if you’re looking for a low-maintenance Gainesville lawn. It’s tough and durable, and does very well resisting weeds and pests without a lot of lawn applications. Its one Achilles Heel though, is that it doesn’t do well with heavy foot traffic, so it may not be the best choice for yards where kids and pets regularly romp.

This variety is known for:

• Excellent weed and pest resistance due to its rough texture
• Does well in shade, but can handle moderate sun too
• Can thrive in acidic soil
• Not very drought resistant, so watering is important

Here are some key tips for caring for a centipede grass in Gainesville, Florida lawns:

1. Mow the grass at a moderate height (between 1½” and 2” is best)
2. Mow less often (biweekly mowing is enough unless you have tall weeds)
3. *Very Important* Maintain up to 1½” of water per week (including natural rainfall), and keep an eye out for signs it needs more.
4. Recognize that centipede grass is naturally a much lighter color (yellow-green) than other varieties. (This doesn’t mean it needs more water or fertilizer — a common misconception.)
5. A minimal fertilizing schedule is best (it easily burns from excess lawn fertilizer applications)
6. Stay vigilant against white grubs and nematodes (these are the only pests that routinely harm centipedegrass, but a bad infestation can cause a lot of damage)

Caring for Gainesville St. Augustine grass lawns
St. Augustine grass is very popular in the North Florida area because it can thrive in sandy soil and hot temperatures. However, it tends to be higher maintenance, has a low tolerance to cold, and can be more susceptible to diseases than other varieties. Some points to keep in mind about St. Augustine turfgrass:

• Not as hardy as other varieties
• Does very well in sun, but can also handle shade (with certain varieties)
• Can thrive in sandy soil, so it can thrive right on the coast
• Not very drought resistant, so it needs to stay well-watered

Here are the best practices for caring for St. Augustine lawns in Gainesville, Florida -

1. Mow the grass higher than other varieties (preferably between 4-5”)
2. Adjust the mowing schedule to avoid “shocking” the grass or creating too much thatch. (1/3rd leaf rule)
3. Water regularly, and extra when it begins to fold.
4. Do regular lawn applications based on specific soil needs and pest prevention
5. Stay on the lookout for any signs of chinch bugs (these lawn pests are very common in our area, and they love St. Augustine grass)

If you’d like more tips for caring for whatever grass your Gainesville lawn is made of, or if you’d like to explore outsourcing your lawn care this year to professionals, contact The Master's Lawn Care and we’d be happy to help. (352) 378-5296