june 2025

This month we will continue applying a combination insecticide and our custom blended fertilizer to your yard, as well as spot treating for weeds for as long as the temperatures allows for it. 

As we welcome summer with rising temperatures, it becomes increasingly essential to ensure that your lawn is getting sufficient irrigation. Our phones are already busy with calls from clients wondering why they have yellow or brown areas that are not growing, or in some cases, have already died. We began our growing season with a substantial rainfall deficit, and while we recently received some substantial rainfall, it remains to be seen if it will continue through our summer months. Our grass needs roughly two inches of water per week, more would definitely be better, but our current regulations only allow us twice weekly which means you need to put out an inch each time. Please remember that irrigating your lawn a small amount on a more frequent basis is not good because the water does not get down to the roots. In high temperatures, that water simply evaporates before it reaches the soil, which is where it needs to be so that the roots can absorb it. As time passes, the roots will rise towards the water, resulting in a shallow and weak root system. This leaves your lawn progressively more susceptible to various issues, including weeds, pests, and diseases. Step outside early morning or evening to inspect your lawn. If you observe that the grass blades are folded (wilted), it’s a clear sign that your lawn is in need of water. Additionally, mowing an overly dry lawn often results in yellow lines/tracks from the weight of the mower, particularly if the mowing pattern isn’t changed on a weekly basis.

St. Augustine grass does not like a lot of traffic and when you have areas that are overly dry and repeatedly walked on by you or your pets, it will most likely result in yellowing or browning. If you have areas prone to drying out more rapidly after running your irrigation, per the St. Johns River Water Management Distrcit, "a hand held hose equipped with a spray nozzle that can be adjusted so water flows only as needed is allowed anytime.” Click here to read about the other exceptions to our  watering restrictions: https://www.sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions/#restrictions-exceptions. If you still have “hot spots” in your yard that just aren’t receiving enough water with the twice weekly watering that we are allowed, hand water those areas early in the morning, or evening, before the heat sets in. 

Whether you use an irrigation maintenance company or not to maintain your automated system, we implore you to verify for yourself that your lawn is receiving the correct amounts by performing the very easy "tuna can test". Click here: Links & Topics for instructions. No irrigation system is perfect, so you will most likely find some areas receive more and some less, which is easily remedied by adjusting your system. We can tell you first hand that over the years we've received many thank you calls from clients who thought their trouble areas appeared like they were receiving the correct amount, but after performing the self test they discovered those areas were receiving inadequate water. It truly is impossible to verify with the naked eye.

Every summer we receive calls about mysterious dying or dead spots after our clients have had work performed at their home. i.e., pressure washing, new pavers, tree trimming, construction, etc. Be mindful that often times materials, tools, etc. have to be placed on your lawn while that work is being performed which will often leaves its mark, particularly in higher temperatures and dry conditions. Several years ago we personally experienced this in our own front and back yards after having major work done (tree trimming, removal of a large diseased oak tree and paver paths and patios added). With the equipment used and the materaisl that had to be place out of the way of our cars, It simply couldn’t be helped.  

In our 33 years of operation, along with many more years of experience in the industry, we have distinguished ourselves from many competitors by being transparent about the effort required to attain a beautiful, and even more crucially, a healthy lawn. We truly care about your lawn and want you to achieve the best results possible from our lawn program. As we explain to all clients, our program is based on the recommendations of the University of Florida, the creators of St. Augustine grass. There is an abundance of scientific research supporting the best practices for maintaining your lawn, ensuring it remains both beautiful and healthy.