For many homeowners, spreading mulch is part of the ritual of tidying up their landscape beds and increasing their curb appeal. Some will use landscape fabric under the mulch, in the hope that it will help prevent weeds from growing in their Gainesville Landscape beds.

“There are various types of landscape fabric, and some work better than others, but unless they're under rock they all will be useless after several years ” said Rusty, founder of The Master's Lawn Care. One common type is a nonwoven textile made of plastic fibers, often black, that may be perforated with small holes.

The use of landscape fabric is based on the idea that it will either physically intercept weed plants, or that it will keep seeds in the soil from sprouting by blocking sunlight.

“A properly applied layer of mulch is enough to keep weed seeds in the dark,” Rusty said. “You don’t need a layer of fabric to shade them out.”

Related: New Ways to Think of Mulch in Your Gainesville Landscape

The bigger concern is that fabric itself may lead to problems down the road. For example, it is designed to allow the passage of both water and air, which are critical for the roots of trees and other plants; often there are small perforations for this purpose. But in practice, the openings may clog up with soil and organic matter from the decay of the mulch. Air can’t get through and neither can rain.

Landscape fabric is not needed beneath mulch to block weeds, if you have the correct amount of mulch. Also, as the mulch breaks down, the nutrients and compost cannot do their job of helping the plants' roots and weeds end up seeding into the compst on top of the fabric.

Some homeowners use landscape fabric in the belief that it will keep mulch from decaying so it doesn’t need to be replenished. However, most mulch products are made from wood byproducts, and dead wood will always eventually decay in the presence of moisture. That decay is actually one of the great benefits of mulch. As the wood breaks down into humus, it releases nutrients to enrich the soil and feeds beneficial microorganisms that are necessary companions to the roots of healthy plants.

Landscape fabric can interfere with this process. “The mulch will still break down into organic matter, but that organic matter will be blocked from improving your soil,” Rusty added.

Related: The 2 Most Common Gainesville Landscaping Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Depending on the fabric you install, the fabric itself typically won’t rot, but as the mulch on top of it decays, it often becomes unsightly. “You can end up with a bunch of tattered fabric around the base of your tree,” she said.

You can get the full benefits of mulch by simply spreading an even layer right over the soil around trees, shrubs and perennials. On perennial beds, 1 to 2 inches is plenty. For trees and shrubs, the layer should be 3 inches deep and extend at least 3 feet out from the trunk, or wider if possible. Situations do vary by the environemnt, so these are not blanket statements - but more general rules of thumb.

A place that landscape fabric is highly recommended is under non-decomposing products - such as river rock or rubber mulch. Those materials do not break down, therefore do not create a future problem. They actually help keep the landscape gravel from sinking into the soil and needing replenishment as often. 

"These gravel and man-made mulch products are where professionals generally agree that fabric adds a lot of value, without the headaches down the road," offered Rusty. 

As you look to add mulch into your lawn and replenish your landscape beds this fall or spring, make sure to decipher where landscape fabric is a good investment, and where it may cost you down the road.

If you need help with your Gainesville landscape upgrades or other lawn service, please do not hesitate to reach out by filling out the form at the top of the page, or calling our office at (352) 378-5296.

As the seasons change, so should your Gainesville lawn maintenance action plan. We have compiled a few tips that will keep your lawn in great shape during the winter months. Feel free to share this with your neighbors as well! That way, the whole neighborhood can have beautiful landscapes this winter.

1. Procrastinate on your Winter Pruning 

Most every winter will cause some dieback on certain plants in North Florida. How low the temperatures get and what plants you have in your Gainesville yard determines how much winter pruning there is to do, but we all have some. Crape Myrtles, Muhly Grasses, Hydrangea, Flax Lilies, Ginger, and Hibiscus are just a few of the plants that may need to have the dead leaves and branches pruned back before spring. Those brown forst-damaged leaves and branches do serve a purpose though, as they protect the plant from future frosts causing more damage - even though they can be unsightly.

What's best for the plant long-term may not always be what's best for appeal in the short-term - but we recommend waiting to do your winter pruning until after the last frost (late February). Pruning the winter dieback off tells the plant that winter is over and it's time to rejuvenate new growth for spring. There aren't many times that procrastinating pays off - but this is certainly one of them!

2. Keep your Deck Raised throughout Winter

It's common for lawns to get mowed shorter during winter as the growth slows down. This typically is well-intended, trying to keep a clean-cut appearance, however, the lower mowing also weakens the grass and root system - causing more frost damage and slower recovery in spring. The rule of thumb to remember is the taller the lawn is cut, the deeper the roots grow for St. Augustine lawns.

3. Reduce Irrigation Settings, but Keep it on

Gainesville lawns never go completely dormant because of our warm spells throughout winter, but they do not need as much water as winter or even fall. We recommend cutting back to 1x per week with about 50% of the watering time as used in summer. This keeps the lawn healthy, but also keeps winter broadleaf weeds and fungus growth to a minimum through the winter.

4. Overseed with Winter Rye

If you want to see your lawn look the best it can over the holidays, overseed your lawn with winter rye. It is bright green all winter long and will give you the lushest lawn on the street - for as long as it stays cold. We offer this service and it's only about $200 for an average sized lawn, so give us a call if you would like an estimate.

5. Be Prepared to Cover Tropical plants During Frosts

Unexpected freezes can devastate tender and tropical planted landscapes and gardens. You can protect these plants from the freeze by using a frost cloth. 

6. Don't fertilize with Nitrogen

Nitrogen in lawn fertilizer pushes new growth, which is great for spring and summer, but in winter can create new tender growth that gets hit hard by cold snaps like we are experiencing this week. Potassium to feed the lawn's roots and soil ammendaments are the best additions to your lawn through February.

If we can be of help with any of your winter Gainesville lawn 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 filling out our form at the top of the page!

As all eyes are turned towards Eta, a powerful tropical storm already causing damage in the Caribbean and threatening our state, we pray that family and friends already affected are safe. As we look towards the future and try to predict the storm's path we can take some steps today to help protect ourselves from damage. Here are 5 things you can do today to proactively protect your home..

• Look Up at Your Tree Canopies -  Remove any dead limbs that are within reach and any growth close to windows or your roof. It may be late in the game to call our Gainesville Tree Service team out in advance of this particuliar storm, but if you have a chainsaw or even a hand saw, you may be able to remove and dispose of some lower tree limbs yourself to avoid unnecessary damage to your roof, vehicle, or landscape. If it's too big of a job for DIY, get it on the schedule before the next storm. We are happy to help!

• Check your Gutters & Drainage system - Most Gainesville homes have some type of rain runoff control system - gutters, downspout extensions, french drains, or drainage system. These are meant to keep water from building up around the foundation of your home, and manage the onslaught of runoff we can have in Florida, so make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and that extensions are directing water away from your foundation. If you have a French drain, take a moment to make sure that it's cleaned out and that the catch basins are free of mulch, leaves, and debris to allow maximum water flow. We have had a very wet year already, so if you are already aware of drainage problems in your yard, take extra precautions to keep water out of your home. If you have a Gainesville drainage project planned, make sure to call us so we can get it taken care of before the next storm! 

• Stormproof your Irrigation- Many clients find out too late that their irrigation system is one of the most likely places to be affected by lightning. If you have a pump that services the irrigation system, we recommend that you unplug it as well as unplugging your sprinkler controller/timer. One of the most common calls that we get after a storm is an irrigation timer that is no longer functioning after being struck by lightning. That rain sensor can sometimes act as a lightning rod begging to be hit. Unplug your timer during the storm to prevent this from happening. 

• Unplug Fountains- Before a storm, fountains should be turned off and secured, electrical cords should be unplugged, rolled up and secured. Any body of water is a draw for lightning, and will commonly fry pumps, lighting, or any other electrical devoce nearby if not protected properly.

• Secure Loose Items- Remove loose items that can be moved by heavy winds, creating potential hazards. Garden furniture, small grills, pots, and yard tools that may be laying around can become dangers in high winds. Move these items into a garage or secure structure before the storm arrives. My 3x5 Gator flag and pole on my front porch that I forgot and left out one year caused hundreds of dollars in wood repair because it was something I left out that was able to catch wind.

We will continue to monitor this storm closely and ask that you take all needed precautions in your Gainesville yard to keep your home and neighbors safe. It's always better to err on the side of caution and be over-prepared. If we can be of service after the storm passes, please call or text our office at (352) 378-5296 or e-mail info@themasterslawncare.com. Thanks and stay safe!

Although Gainesville landscapes have a very short fall season that transitions from Summer to Winter, we do still have a few areas we can focus our attention on in late October and early November to keep our Gainesville landscape growing more appealing..

Tip #1 : Fall is the best time of year to install new plants, trees, and sod in your landscape (even better than spring!)

Many people think Spring is the season to re-landscape, but that is typically a northern habit where the spring is best due to their harsh winters. Our winters are very mild, and our extreme season is the heat and humidity summer, and fall planting gives them 3 full seasons to prepare for it.

You will want to get the plants rooted in before the next harsh Florida summer. The climate in Florida allows its gardeners to enjoy blooms all year long. Planting in the fall will give them enough time to establish throughout fall, winter, and spring before the triple-digit temperatures begin. Fall is suitable to lay sod in Florida as it brings cooler temperatures which will not affect the growth of the roots. Cooler temperatures lessen the maintenance requirement as the sod won’t need as frequent of irrigation. 

Tip #2: Kill your weeds before they start with a Pre-Emergent weed application 

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent winter weeds is one of the best things you can do for your lawn during this time. Fall pre-emergent applications are designed to prevent winter annual weeds from germinating, and these weeds germinate soon as the weather begins to shift. Timing is very important to successfully prevent winter annual weeds from taking over your lawn. If you start to see weeds growing, a pre-emergent will not work. At that point, you must switch to a reactive weed control plan by using a post-emergent weed control product. 

If you are not comfortable applying liquid products in your lawn, feel free to call our office to get on the schedule. 

Tip #3: Reduce your irrigation zone run times to reduce overwatering

Hopefully, your sprinkler system has only been running minimally this summer due to having a Smart Controller or Weather Sensor adjusting for all of the rain, but you probably still have some longer watering times from hot and dry spells that can pop up in spring and summer.  These station run time (or zone run times) can now be reduced as the temperatures drop.

Healthy established Florida lawns require no more than two days per week of water this time of year, and it will go down to once per week as we enter into November. The shorter days and cooler evenings mean less evaporation, and lower water bills as well. 

While adjusting those irrigation settings, it is also best to water later in the morning during cooler temperatures. As we shift into winter and freezing temperatures can creep in, you do not want to take a chance on your system running during a frost. This is another reason we highly recommend smart controllers to keep this from happening.

Tip #4: Get leaves off the lawn as quick as possible

If you have leaf-dropping (deciduous) trees that drop in autumn, your lawn will be smothered in a layer of Sycamore, Elm, Sweetgum, or Maple leaves. The layer of leaves will form a barrier that block sunlight, water, nutrients, and a healthy air flow from getting down to the root system of your grass. Most importantly of those isthe sunlight that provides Vitamin D which lawns need in the fall as it stores up food for winter. Keeping leaves off your lawn is an essential part of proper Fall lawn care and maintenance.

Tip #5: Pressure Clean to prepare for holiday guests

With the holidays fast approaching, look around your house at what could be power washed before your guests arrive. This year, you may even have guests that prefer to keep most of the gathering outdoors for safety precautions. This is the time when you may want to consider, "Do I want my family and friends to see it looking this way?"

Simple and quick walkway, driveway, and paver patio pressure washing are great ways to add curb appeal to your property after a hot and humid summer.  Whatever your home needs this fall, don't let it wait to the week before thanksgiving like I may have done more than a few times before!

If we can be of help with any of your fall landscaping chores in Gainesville, or the Surrounding areas - please don't hesitate to reach out to us at (352) 378-LAWN or filling out our form at the top of the page!

As all eyes are turned towards Hurricane Dorian, a powerful storm already wreaking havoc in the Caribbean and threatening our state, we pray that family and friends already affected are safe. As we look towards the future and try to predict the storm's path we can take some steps today to help protect ourselves from damage. Here are 4 things you can do today to help protect your home and property.

Storm-ready your Irrigation System – This is an often overlooked item in storm preparations. Many clients find out too late that their irrigation system is one of the most likely places to be affected by lightning. If you have a pump that services the irrigation system, we recommend that you unplug it as well as unplugging your controller. One of the most common calls that we get after a storm is an irrigation timer that is no longer functioning after being struck by lightning. Unplug your timer during the storm to prevent this from happening.

Pay Attention to trees – At this point it may be too late to undertake major tree removal projects, but there is plenty that you can do still without a Professional Gainesville Tree Company. Remove any dead limbs that are within reach and any growth close to windows or your roof. You may not be able to reach an arborist in time for this storm, but if you have a chainsaw or even a hand saw, you may be able to remove and dispose of some lower tree limbs yourself. For those larger tree projects make sure to reach out and schedule a time to meet with one of our estimators for these projects in the near future as the storm season is still very young. 

Clean out gutters – In order to divert water away from your home your gutters need to be clean and clear of debris. Using a blower or small shovel to clean out leaves and debris and flushing out your downspouts with a hose will help to ensure that water flows freely. This is also a good time to check your drainage system if you have one installed. Clean out any catch basins and make sure French drains are cleared of debris. We may not catch the brunt of this storm as it seems to be heading south, but certainly we will get a lot of rainwater and potential flooding.

Decorative Items and Planters – Winds and rain can displace and damage decorative items and planters in your yard. To keep them safe and keep those from being blown over or damaging other structures bring them indoors to a garage or shed. This applies to other loose items like patio furniture, or smaller toddler playhouses. Trampolines are another common hazard that should be secured or moved to safety as they can easily become airborne with strong wind gusts.

We will continue to monitor this storm closely and ask that you take all needed precautions in your Gainesville yard to keep your home and neighbors safe. Our team will be ready to assist with any cleanup and tree removal needs you may have, but remember that it's always better to err on the side of caution and be over-prepared.

If we can be of service after the storm passes, please call or text our office at (352) 378-5296 or e-mail info@themasterslawncare.com. Thanks and stay safe!

The next 12-18 weeks will determine how your lawn does in 2019, so we hope these tips are helpful to you in making sure you have a lawn you love in 2019. During the winter months in Gainesville, Florida lawns, the grass is semi-dormant – growing but at a slower pace and almost barely growing at all. The soil microbes are still busy though, doing what soil microbes do – enzymatic digestion of organic matter – aka composting.

So don’t be fooled into thinking the soil and turf grass doesn’t need food and water in the winter – the turf and the soil microbes are living, sending out roots, and need nutrients to stay healthy. Without an active and healthy turf and soil microbe population in winter, the St Augustine or Zoysia turf grass lawn will lag in the spring, losing valuable time during the prime growing season.

5 THINGS TO DO IN THE WINTER FOR ST AUGUSTINE LAWNS

Water Your Lawn with proper irrigation (1x week is recommended)
Feed Your Lawn (nutrients such as Potassium and organic supplements like Sea Kelp and Humic/Fulvic soil stimulants)
Mow Infrequently but as High as the Mower will Go
Weed Control
Be Patient, Spring is coming!

Master these five activities during the winter and you’ll be rewarded with a healthy Gainesville lawn this spring and well into the summer months.

1. WATER YOUR LAWN

One persistent myth is that St Augustine needs less water in the winter. This is false. Although the St Augustine turf is semi-dormant, it is still living and growing and needs food and water to do so. The soil is teeming with soil microbes that need a moist soil to compost organic matter into plant food. Let the lawn dry out and you kill the soil microbes, starve the turf and turn your lawn into a weed patch. You can irrigate less due to having lower amounts of evaporation with cooler weather - but don't turn your Gainesville sprinklers off by any means!

So remember, the #1 determining factor for the health of your Gainesville turf and soil microbes is water – and about 90% of the water your lawn requires will come from irrigation. Therefore, the irrigation system must run, cover the entire lawn and put out enough water to “fill” the soil. If it doesn’t – then fix and repair until it does.

How Much Water?

Your lawn needs just as much water in winter as the rest of the year. The amount of water needed is not determined by temperature but by our soils. Our soils need the same amount of water whether it is hot or cold. On average our sandy soils in Pinellas County will require watering 3 times per week – even in the winter. Learn more here: How to Set Up Your Irrigation System to Keep a St Augustine Lawn Alive with 2x Week Watering Restrictions

2. FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN

The main goal of feeding a lawn is not feeding the turf, it is for feeding the soil microbes so that they can compost. Nitrogen, potassium, sulphur and iron are not readily available in our sandy soils and need to be replenished on a regular basis. – even in the winter.

My winter feeding program focuses on potassium and micronutrients - especially sulfur and iron – but I don’t neglect the nitrogen. I limit nitrogen to 0.5 pounds per 1000 square feet of lawn during the winter. One good granular application of a 16 -0-8 with a good micronutrient package is sufficient until spring.

3. MOW INFREQUENTLY BUT AS HIGH AS THE MOWER WILL GO

Winter is not the time to mow low – mowing low does more harm than good in the winter. When you mow low it opens up the canopy, exposing the soil and tender roots and stems to drying sun and winter winds. A dry soil and sun parched stems and roots does not make for a healthy lawn. These winter months are a perfect time to skip a few mowings, allowing the canopy to become even higher and reduce wear and tear.

4. WEED CONTROL IS EFFECTIVE AND SAFER

Winter is the best time for weed control. Focus on the persistent perennial weeds like Dollar Weed, sedges, and Day Flower. There are other annual weeds that pop up - but they will melt away with the rising temperatures - so focus on the perennials. I suggest Manor and Basagram as good herbicides to use on a St Augustine lawn in the winter months for control of dollar weed, sedges and day flower.

Be careful with the Weed-N-Feed formulations, as they may have high nitrogen content which could cause a lawn to fail in cold temperatures.

5. BE PATIENT

This semi-dormant period is natural and very important for the health of the turf – let it do its thing. Pushing the Zoysia or St Augustine turf grass out of semi-dormancy with excess nitrogen will create a false signal to the turf that spring has sprung and cause havoc with your lawn. I have heard from many homeowners so anxious for a green lawn they over stimulated their winter lawn with nitrogen, say "My lawn was so pretty - it was the greenest lawn all winter and now it is dead." Don't be tempted to make the lawn green with a parlor trick of high nitrogen fertilizer. Be wise, be patient, and let the grass progress from semi-dormant to spring in the right way for a great lawn in 2019.

QUICK NOTE ABOUT LAWN SPRAYING

The Master's Gainesville Lawn Spraying combines year round feeding of your lawn with insect and weed control so you don’t have to experiment with different brands and formulations. We know what to do and when to do it – that is what makes lawn spraying such a good service at a good price. If you are overwhelmed by the massive amount of choices for fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides, you may want to consider hiring a professional Gainesville lawn pest service. Call us at (352) 378-5296 if we can be of service. 

The 2  two biggest mistakes I see when homeowners (and even a few Gainesville landscape companies) plant trees and shrubs are planting them too low, and applying too much mulch. In today’s quick tip, I’ll give you my secrets to planting a healthy tree in your Gainesville lawn.

Mistake 1: Planting Plants/Tree Too Low

This simple mistake is the most common one we see and does major damage to the plant. It also is the main reason that we see trees and shrubs planted for a while and not actively growing. Most people think a tree is supposed to be planted with the root ball flush with the soil level, but that is incorrect. This results in people planting their trees too deep which makes it hard for your newly planted tree to thrive, as the base of the plant cannot breathe.

What should be done is to install the tree so the root flare is flush with the soil level, which looks like the tree is planted too high to the untrained eye, like the photo below:

The reason this is bad for your tree is that this excess dirt rots the bark off of the tree and prevents valuable nutrients from moving from the roots up to the branches. One of the symptoms of a tree that has been planted too deep is if you lean on a tree that has been in the ground a few years and that tree’s trunk rocks easily back and forth in the ground, that tree is slowly rotting. The only fix to this is digging up the tree or shrub and replanting correctly to see if it can be salvaged.

Mistake 2: Too much mulch (mulch volcanoes!)

This is a case of too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, like candy. Mulch is great for plants and trees and overall is beneficial to landscapes by controlling weeds as well. The problem is when a person goes overboard piling too much mulch up against the tree trunk. The next time you are out and above, pay attention to the mulch volcanoes in your neighborhood. Most people, including far too many landscape professionals and lawn care workers, make this mistake. Here are some funny photos of "mulch volcanoes:"

Make no mistake, you need to mulch your new tree, plants, and landscape, but the way to do is to leave a gap of about 2-3" away from the trunk of the tree. Here is an image showing how we recommend trees to be installed correctly including the mulch and planting height:

For a tree to thrive, nutrients, fertilizers, and oxygen pass back and forth in a layer just underneath the bark. A telling example of how important this is for a tree - years ago, when a farmer wanted to kill a tree on their land, they would take their knife and cut through the bark all the way around the tree. This cut effectively cut off the tree’s supply of nutrients. This is called girding a tree and that’s exactly what happens when you pile too much mulch or soil up around the trunk by the two above mistakes. The bark rots and begins to cut off the supply of nutrients.

If you are thinking about planting a tree or making any updates to your Gainesville, Florida landscape, give us call at 352-378-5296 or email info@themasterslawncare.com. We’ve been helping our community improve the health and beauty of their lawns and landscapes for over a decade and have a lot of experience and knowledge in what plants and trees will thrive in our Florida weather, which will save you time and money in the long run. We look forward to working with you. 

April has flown by and here we are knocking on the door of summer. College students are heading home for summer after graduation this past weekend, and the elementary, middle, and high schools are next. This month, why not take steps to protect your home during the soon-to-come summer storms? A few adjustments now can really pay off when the next weather event hits. Here are 3 ways to prepare you Gainesville yard for storms that can save you hundreds of dollars, and give you some peace of mind.

1. Clean Your Gutters
During the fall and winter, many gutters became filled with leaves, pine straw, and debris. Clear any debris from your gutters to make sure all that rainwater can easily flow off your roof and away from your home. When water can't get through your gutters, it pools on your roof and flows over the gutters in ways that can damage your landscaping, cause erosion at the foundation, or even damage your home's wood siding. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer, or you prefer to hire a Gutter Cleaning professional - it's important to get it done before the summer season comes, and it's much easier to do when it's been dry in spring if you're a DIYer! 

2. Prune Your Trees
Some of the worst storm damage is caused by falling trees. A healthy, sturdy tree is unlikely to topple in high winds, but one with dead limbs or disproportionate growth may. Prior to Summer is the perfect time to contact our team to have a trusted arborist evaluate the health of your trees. If you've got large trees on your property, you should have them evaluated every couple years. Maintaining them will help you protect both your property and the tree itself. 

3. Ensure Your Lawn has Proper Drainage
If water pools around your home, flood damage or foundational damage should be a concern for you in the storm season. As the summer downpours inevitably come, followed by the occasional tropical storm, proper Gainesville Drainage solutions are a top priority. They could involve Gutters, Downspout extensions, French Drains, Drainage Swales, or simply re-grading the area for improved runoff. 

4. Reduce Clutter in your Landscape

Many landscapes have clutter and debris in them - everything from pet and children's toys, hoses, garden furniture, landscape artwork, and other debris. All of these things can become airborne in a storm and cause damage to your or your neighbor's home. You don't need to remove it all until a hurricane or tropical storm is bearing down on us - but getting some of the unnecessary clutter in your yard will sure make cleaning up the lawn with the storm bearing down on you much easier.

5. Document your Home - Outside and In

This is not a tip you'd expect from a lawn company, because it has very little to do with your yard. However, it's a lesson many have learned the hard way. It is impossible to remember everything you owned after a major loss. Video or Photo evidence of what your home looked like, inside and out, before the loss makes replacement a simpler process - and there's no better time to have a simplified process in the midst of a catastrophe. The documentation should cover a quick inventory of your appliances, tools, furniture, and valuable belongings in addition to any upgrades to the home. 

Preparation for a storm shouldn't just happen when the storm is inevitably on it's way. It should occur annually as storm season approaches by proactively preparing for the worst, while hoping for the best. If we can help with the gutter cleaning, tree arborist services, or drainage solutions- don't hesitate to call our office at (352)378-5296 or fill out the form above. We would love to help!