Did you walk outside today and look down at your lawn and notice some rough patches starting to form? Are those brown patches getting bigger each day? There are numerous reasons a lawn could struggle during the summer in Florida. The best thing to do is educate yourself and act soon before the HOA starts sending you those notifications we all pretend to take seriously.
Dry, Brittle Grass
Florida summers can be hot. You need to stay hydrated and so does your lawn. If your lawn feels like walking on straw, then you might be underwatering your grass.
The solution is to opt for a controlled, slow-watering routine that’ll nourish your lawn without creating surface run-off from watering too fast or in heavy bursts. You can also maximize efficiency by grouping plants together that have similar water needs.
Invasion Of Weeds
Are weeds growing better than the grass? Weeds can thrive in areas where grass is absent, such as where there’s compacted soil or inadequate nutrition. Their seeds are also easily distributed and can take root in your lawn via wind, animals, or by you just walking around.
It’s important to get any bare spots in the lawn filled with grass seed before the weeds take over. To remove any existing weeds, you could start pulling out weeds by hand, but it’s better to have a lawn care team that’ll use preventative treatments before the growing season starts to put a stop to any invasions.
Lawn-Destroying Pests
Pests like chinch bugs, armyworms, and sod webworms love to feast on grass during summer, leading to patches where grass is either dead or dying. Implementing a pest control plan is the most efficient way to prevent bugs from turning your lawn into a salad bar.
Brown patches can also form due to high humidity, which can lead to fungal disease that quickly takes over your yard. To prevent this, aerate your lawn to improve air circulation and dethatch to reduce the moisture fungi need to thrive.
Lawn Mowing Routine
Cutting your lawn is a given when you’re a homeowner. But how and when you cut your lawn might be causing your grass avoidable distress.
Don’t let your grass become a jungle. Letting your grass grow too long can put it into shock when you do finally cut it. You never want to cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Also, each grass type has a recommended height to maintain by your mower height.
Consider using a mulching mower to return grass cuttings to your lawn, which provide valuable nutrients. Mulched clippings also help the local environment by reducing the number of bags of grass clippings that need to be disposed of.
Lack of Nutrition
If your lawn is still lacking that vibrancy and lushness you want, it may be malnourished. Nutrients can be washed away if there’s been excessive rainfall, or the current nutrient supply is not enough during the summer climate.
To get a healthy lawn, you’ll need to implement a consistent, organic feed schedule. This can also be taken care of by a lawn care professional. It’s also helpful to have your soil tested so the right balance of nutrients, like phosphorus for roots and potassium for stress tolerance, can be applied.
Contact Royal Pest Services
To get your lawn looking its best for the summer, contact Royal Pest Services today. We’ll get your lawn back to its natural, lush condition, and help you keep it that way throughout the year. Start today with a free lawn analysis. Our lawn treatment program includes 8 treatments a year along with service calls for no additional charge.
