Areas of a lawn can become uneven over time, due to settling, drainage issues, and various natural and unnatural causes. If you’re wanting to level out these spots the first step will be finding the cause of the uneven spots.

Cause #1
The most common reason being trees were removed some time in the last  several years. As the tree stump and roots decompose, it creates a low spot where the mass of the tree's trunk was.
Solution #1
Apply about 2 inches of quality top soil in the low spot. Do not fully cover the grass, make sure the grass is visible, let it grow through the soil and keep adding this until it grows out.
What to Expect:
Unless the tree is done decomposing it will continue to decompose and cause a spot. Leveling this spot will be a continual process until it is done decomposing. Plan on repeating this process over time - 2 inches this season - then 2 next season over and over until the low spot is gone.

Cause #2
Another cause is a natural slope, the yard has never been graded, or a divot formed in the yard from when the house was built.
Solution #2
Assess how much grading needs to be done. Does your whole yard need to be regraded? Contact a Land Grading company to assist you with this. This process will require new sod.
What to Expect:
The proper way to re-grade starts with removing the topsoil from the problem area. Now adjust the subsoil by scraping away high areas and filling in low areas. Spread 2-inches of the reserved topsoil and till it into the first 2-inches of subsoil. This will help prevent drainage problems between the two layers of soil.

Cause #3
Vehicle or heavy equipment driving through the yard and creating ruts (generally for tree removal or landscaping enhancement service)
Solution #3
Topdressing with quality topsoil is your best solution for minor problems. Cut the lawn or affected area very short before topdressing. It’ll be easier to see the area and level the topsoil. Apply about 2 inches of quality top soil in the low spot. Do not fully cover the grass, let it grow through the soil and keep adding this until it grows out.
What to Expect:
After adding the topdressing, water the area to help settle it. If the area is still too low, let grass grow about 4 to 6 weeks, when another 2 inches of the soil can be added.

Cause #4
Although the least common for minor depressions in a lawn, sometimes the low spot is the worst case scenario - a sinkhole underground.
Solution #4
Contact a professional sinkhole remediation service. There are too many potential solutions based on size, scope, and proximity to buildings to give accurate advice on.

Bottom line, dumping a load of sand and shoveling it into holes isn’t the best practice. Be patient, even if it takes a couple of seasons to even out a really rough yard, fill in holes that used to be trees or other gaps in the ground.

If we can be of help with any of your landscaping project intall chores - please don't hesitate to reach out to us at (352) 378-LAWN or fill out our form at the top of the page!

Now that we have made it most of the way through the dark days of winter and our plants are brown and damaged from cold snaps, it's time to plan your spring pruning for rejuvenating your landscape.

There are four major reasons for pruning a plant:
1. To improve flower or fruit production
2. To direct the growth and shape of the plant
3. To change the size of the plant
4. To promote plant health

With spring just around the corner, it's the pruning season for many Florida landscape plants. You can spring new life into a plant by letting it flush out from rejuvenation pruning.

But, what is rejuvenation pruning?
Rejuvenation pruning is the removal of old or overgrown limbs so that the plant can grow new, healthy branches in their place. Plants that require rejuvenation can be “hard pruned” or pruned gradually.

Why is rejuvenation pruning done?
This type of deep pruning is done to “rejuvenate” the health of shrubs. Without regular pruning, shrubs can get crowded, look messy, produce fewer flowers, and leave the plant looking really unhealthy.

When is rejuvenation pruning needed?
This radical form of pruning is used when shrubs are overgrown, leggy, dying in the interior and/or have slowed flowering. This typically happens to fast-growing, multi-stemmed shrubs if they haven’t been properly pruned for several years.

Rejuvenation pruning gives these shrubs a fresh start. After stems have been removed down to the ground, the shrub quickly begins to regrow. Flowering shrubs produce more blossoms in following years and shrubs with colorful stems, such as dogwoods, tend to grow back brighter and more colorful after rejuvenation pruning.

What time of year should rejuvenation pruning be done?
Rejuvenation or renewal pruning is usually done in early spring before new growth emerges. Pruning in this way during a later time of year can cause excessive stress to the plant.

Which Gainesville Landscape plants can benefit from rejuvenation pruning?
- Perennials that grow very fast have flowers that get frozen back to sticks
(examples: Firespike, Lantana, Butterfly Bush, Milkweed, Plumbago…all of these need to be cut back every year to cut off the frost damaged to grow from base (Crape Myrtles as well)

- Spring blooming plants after they are finished flowering. Many Southern shade garden plants such as Azaleas and Camellia in the spring blooming category. You can prune spring bloomers any time after flowering, but before the Fourth of July as these plants begin to set next year’s blooms from mid-summer to fall. If you prune too late in the year, you will not experience blooms the following spring.These plants may look dead but they may very well have life in them. Never prune this set of plants until after they flower.

- Ornamental Grasses such as Flax, Muhly grass, and Pampas Grass will need rejuvenation pruning after hard frosts. This ensures the dead and frost-damaged leaves do not remain along with the new growth from spring, leaving the plant healthier and more appealing.

- Leggy looking plants such as Knockout and Drift Roses when they are overgrown and in need of rejuvenation pruning. If a plant gets too much growth on old wood-then sometimes old branches will start restricting the nutrients that go to those limbs and the rejuvenation pruning will allow more growth and fill back out without all those dead “leggy” limbs.

Pruning at the correct time of year can improve structure, control growth, and encourage beautiful blooms. If you are happy with the size, shape, and blooming of your plants, you have it easy. You may not even need to prune at all!

If you would like more information on pruning, check out a few of our Youtube videos on the topic:

What can be done with Muhly and Pampas Grasses to keep them appealing?
Spring Pruning for Golden Cassia Trees
Spring Pruning in your Gainesville Landscape
3 Tips for Pruning Crape Myrtles in Gainesville, Florida

If we can be of help with your spring rejuvenation pruning Gainesville landscape maintenance chores - or the surrounding areas of Alachua, Jonesville, and Newberry - please don't hesitate to reach out to us at (352) 378-LAWN or fill out our form at the top of the page!

Spring marks the start of a new growing season. It's time to get out there and tackle some spring lawn fundamentals to set you and your grass up for success before season fully kicks into gear. Putting in a little extra work now is going to mean less time, frustration, and possibly even money spent later on trying to rescue your lawn. Do what you can to build a strong lawn foundation this spring, it's worth it.

PREP YOUR GAINESVILLE LAWN LIKE A PRO

Clear off your turf

• Remove any leaves or debris on the lawn. Blowing is preferred to raking (to not pull at stolons) but lightly raking will do. This will allow for quicker soil warm up and ensure enough sunlight reaches your grass.

Install Plugs or Sod in Bare spots

• Fill in your lawn's bare areas. Patching bare spots will help prevent weed growth and will give you a thick, full lawn as the plugs/sod spreads. Very few of our grass types are seedable, so St. Augustine and Zoysia have to be plugged or sodded. As those plugs grow in, they will crowd out weeds and need less weed control naturally.

Fine tune your irrigation system

• Start with a sprinkler system check, or a "wet check," which should be done several times annually. This helps assure you aren't wasting water on paved surfaces and plants are getting proper coverage. Make sure all sprinkler heads are functioning, reaching their target range, and aren’t blocked by plant growth or debris. Keep an eye on your sprinklers as the season goes on to stay on top of any problems - because improper irrigation is where most pests and diseases start.

Set Your Sprinkler Timer for Spring

• Your Gainesville Sprinkler system should've been turned down to 1 day per week or less for winter, but spring is Gainesville Landscape's driest season. Watering properly over the next 3 months will set your lawn up for major success this year. Bump your watering days to 2 days per week (Depending upon address below) and make sure to increase your watering times too.

Sharpen your Mower blades

• Dull mower blades tug on grass roots and stress grass blades out . Also, a well-sharpened mower blade will chop grass clippings finely, making for easy decomposition to enrich the soil. That’s if you’re grass-cycling, if you aren’t you should definitely check it out (free nutrients!). For an average lawn, blades should be sharpened every couple months. Why not start with spring?

Watch for Weeds through Season

• Young weeds are weaker and easier to tackle than grown up weeds. Whether you are pulling them out or using our lawn health service, early weed control is always better than letting them get established. Spring is a great time to get in the habit of looking out for weeds. Once a month assessing your lawn would probably go a long way to keeping them in check.

Should I aerate my lawn or not?

• If your soil is compact and it’s affecting your grass’ ability to grow, Spring is a great time for Gainesville aeration. Aeration helps soils to allow oxygen, water, and nutrients to penetrate past the topsoil and reach the root zone, but aeration is not for all lawns. Liquid Aeration is actually proving to last longer and have better effects on your lawn than manual core aeration, and we are always testing new products coming out on the market to increase your lawn health and mnimize costs associated with doing so. Gainesville Liquid aeration has proved as one those examples.

Frequently Observing Your Lawn 

• Lawn problems usually can be reduced greatly when they are spotted and resolved early. Spending regular time in your lawn making observations can help you and your Gainesville lawn spraying company stay ahead of lawn issues.

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.

Mowing your lawn properly is one of the easiest ways to fight off Gainesville lawn weeds and diseases. Cutting grass at its recommended height helps it get the sunlight and vital nutrients needed to be lush and healthy. Mowing too short ('scalping') can have some pretty serious negative effects; it can weaken and even kill your lawn. Additionally, cutting too short will limit the grass’s nutrient supply, giving weeds the opportunity to take over your Gainesville turf.

How Scalping Affects Grass

Grass is able to survive thanks to photosynthesis, which is the process of taking in sunlight and using it as energy. Cutting too much of the leaf blade limits the lawn’s ability to store this energy, restricting its nutrient supply and ultimately choking the grass. Not sure if you’re scalping your lawn? If your grass is so short that its stem is exposed, it’s too short. This stem is usually brown in color. Typically, most warm-season grasses should be at least 1 inch high and most cool-season grasses should be at least 2.5 inches high. You may also be scalping if you regularly cut the grass at your mower’s lowest setting.

Things That Make Scalping Worse

One of the worst contributing factors to scalping is mowing with a dull blade. The next time you mow, take a look at the grass afterwards. If it looks torn and frayed, your mower blade needs sharpening. You can buy a blade sharpener at most home and garden centers. Additionally, scalping the lawn in the heat of summer will seriously hinder the grass’s ability to recover. Since hot weather already stresses lawns, scalping will most definitely make matters worse.

Tips for Quality Mowing

It’s better for your lawn to be too long than too short, especailly with St. Augustine turf. Aim to keep your grass about three inches long throughout the growing season. It’s also helpful to leave grass clippings on your lawn instead of bagging them. Decomposed grass will return precious nutrients to the soil through a process called “grass-cycling.” This system works much better when mowing during the driest period of the day, as excess moisture could otherwise cause the clippings to clump up and block out sunlight from the lawn. Overlap your mowing path by two to three inches, as this will keep the lawn at a consistent height and ensure that it all gets cut.

Repairing the Lawn

If you realize you’ve been scalping the lawn, let your grass grow gradually back to its proper height, never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade length at a time. Additionally, you’ll want to water deeply and infrequently. Proper irrigation will help the lawn recover properly. Check out our lawn watering tips for advice. If scalping has killed large areas of your lawn, The Master's Lawn Care can help you resod those bare and brown spots, or use our Gainesville fertilization programs to get things back on track. 

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. 

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

You smother your grass with love—mowing it, watering it, treating it for pests, and babying it through dry spells. But like any loving parent, your attentiveness could be overdoing it. The harsh truth: Some people damage their lawn by doing the wrong things.

To keep your front Gainesville yard thriving, make sure you steer clear of these common lawn care mistakes. Before long, your friends and neighbors are sure to ask, "How on Earth does your lawn look so great?" Because that's one of the goals, right?

Mistake #1: Cutting grass too short

Who doesn’t like a manicured lawn? But if you cut your grass too short, the shoots get weak and will be unable to produce strong roots. Weak grass won’t stand up to heat and is more easily overwhelmed by crabgrass and other weeds.

The correct height for grass depends on its species. St. Augustine grass is our most common for Gainesville yards, and it likes to be mowed no lower than 3.5" - and most commonly it prefers 4-4.5"

The rule of thumb is to cut no more than one-third of the height of the grass at a time. This provides enough greenness to allow grass to photosynthesize and produce enough energy to survive the cut. This typically means cutting once per week in the growing season.

For Zoysia, Centipede, Bermuda, and Bahia (less common turfgrasses for North Florida lawns) we recommend about 1-2" lower than St. Augustine calls for. 

Change the cutting height of your mower by using the adjustable levers at each wheel. It takes a few minutes, but it’s worth the time and will make a big difference in your lawn with deeper roots and more drought tolerance.

Also, make sure the mower blades are sharp to produce a clean cut that helps grass recover quickly. Dull blades tear the grass and make it more susceptible to disease.Sharpen blades with a metal file at least twice a year, or use a sharpening service that typically charges a small fee, usually around $10.

Mistake #2: Not Watering Enough

You might think you’re doing your lawn right because you're following the 2 days per week rule per the Alachua County Irrigation Code. However, it isn't necessarily about how often you water as much as it is how much water is going onto the lawn when you do run your sprinkler system. 

We blankly recommend about 45-75 minutes for rotor zones and 15-25 minutes for spray zones (on turf). This can be adjusted up and down for unseen considerations like sandy or clay soil, shade or sun, and type of grass. The major thing to consider is also how long the grass has been installed. If it's a new lawn, it will need much more water - and the code allows for exceptions with freshly planted sod and plantings to get them rooted in.

Mistake #3: Overtreating Lawns with fertilizer, weeds, and pest control
A well-fed lawn is a happy lawn, right? Well, if a little is good then a lot is better, right?  An overabundance of nitrogen—a main nutrient supplied by most lawn fertilizers—causes excessive leaf growth and limited root growth, resulting in weak grass that’s susceptible to disease and drought stress. Also, heavy doses of fertilizer will “burn” roots, causing them to shrivel. Overtreating for weed control can do the same thing. 

It’s best to use a slow-release fertilizer applied 3 times per year—in the spring when grass is growing rapidly, second in the early summer to increase density, and again in the fall to strengthen your turf roots for winter. Never fertilize in the heat of midsummer, or you’ll greatly increase the chance of problems.

Overtreatments with products bought at the big box hardware stores is a call we get about 15-20 times per year. Hiring a trusted and quality Gainesville lawn fertilization service is cheaper than re-sodding your lawn. 

Mistake #4: Planting the wrong species
You might love the cool, lacy feel of Zoysiagrass, but it won't grow well in deep shade. You may love prefer the thick blades of St. Augustine grass, but it won't thrive in dry areas of your lawn (lack of irrigation and direct sunlight) without extra care and water.

Most yards are a mix of sun and shade, so when planting a new lawn use IFAS's website for proper turf types. 

Mistake #5: Loving your pets more than your lawn
I love pets and so should you. However, you need to be aware that some types of pets and lawns are opposed. Pets like to go to the bathroom on the lawn and prefer to use the same path for their running routine. This is an undeniable fact of life. While it's better that they do their business outside the house instead of on your hardwood floor, the ammonia, salts, and high levels of nitrogen in pet urine fry grass and cause ugly brown spots on the lawn. If you start early, you can train your puppy to go in a special spot of the yard with gravel that doesn't mind a little piddle. But if your pooch pees on grass—and you catch him in the act—you should try to quickly water the area to dilute it.

Their running pattern also will wear spots in your lawn from traffic stress. This is a little harder to curb with some dogs, but changing habits can be achieved. My solution for my home is that my 2 pups own the backyard, and my beautiful part of my lawn is in the front.