APRIL 2024
As we head into April we will continue our applications of our Florida Friendly Fertilizer, which is a custom blended, slow-release, fertilizer for this particular time of year, combined with an insecticide and weed control.
Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, but please take the time to check your irrigation systems, even if you have them serviced by a professional. Most irrigation companies only check to see that your system works—meaning your control panel is working properly, the heads are not broken and pop-up when turned on, etc. Furthermore, while they make sure your zones are being covered by each head, it is impossible to verify just by sight alone that the water from each head is providing the correct amount of water to each zone in its entirety. I’d be a very wealthy woman if I had a penny for every client who followed through with the “tuna can test” and found that their trouble spots were due to inadequate watering! It’s very easy to do. Place several straight-sided cans (e.g., tuna fish or cat food) throughout your lawn, paying particular attention to areas that often seem to have issues. Run your system as you normally would and once it is finished, each container should have 3/4” of water inside. If not, make note of what zones you need to adjust. To make adjustments to areas not receiving the correct amount of water, place the empty containers in those areas again, run the irrigation for that zone again until the cans have ¾-inch of water inside, then record the time. Take your recorded run times for the zones and program them into your automated system. You may find that some zones require different amounts of time to provide the same quantity of water as the rest. If the difference in the amount of water in each container is significant, a more thorough audit of the irrigation system is most likely needed.
As we enter spring, a frequent issue with some of client's lawns is that they are being mowed too short. St. Augustine grass should be mowed at a height of at least 3” to 4”, especially in partial shade conditions. St. Augustine grass grows horizontal and has an abundance of above ground stems. Those stems grow and creep horizontally along the surface, forming a stiff and firm mat on top of the soil. The leaf blades grow erect from the stems, while the roots grow downward into the soil. The grass blades help protect the stems from the sun. With that, mowing height is critical with St. Augustine because of the above ground stems. If you’re cutting your grass short, you’re mowing the stems. Simply put, no stems means no thick lawn. The best rule of thumb is the higher the cut, the better!
When St. Augustine lawns are mowed too low, it is a sure recipe for serious problems such as:
Poor health, making it highly susceptible to weeds, disease and pest invasions.
Developing layers of thatch much faster, especially if it is growing in full sun. Because thatch is accumulated organic matter that doesn’t decompose as fast as it builds, it just sits there and eventually becomes a barrier between the water and soil.
Losing its shade tolerance due to the lack of green blades.
It is easy to determine if your lawn is being mowed at the correct height by taking a measuring stick or tape and placing it vertically into your lawn until it touches the soil. The height of the blades—after being freshly mowed -should not be any lower than 3”. If you find the height is lower than at least 3”, the mower needs to be raised to produce a higher cut.
Some other important practices for mowing St. Augustine grass are:
Sharpening the mower blades frequently to prevent tearing of the leaf blades. Torn grass blades make your lawn more susceptible to insect and disease issues.
Changing your mowing direction with every mowing. When it is repeatedly mowed in the same pattern it causes the grass blades to lay in the same direction which creates wear patterns and ruts. St. Augustine Changing patterns greatly reduces the possibility of scalping the lawn. Scalping stresses the turf and opens it up for weed, pests and disease issues.
Leave the grass clippings in your lawn, however, If clumping occurs lightly rake or gently use a leaf blower to distribute them. Grass clippings are added nitrogen for your lawn. Also, distributing the clippings prevents thatch, which as previously mentioned acts as a barrier between the water and soil.
As we always tell our clients, our applications are only 1/3 of the equation to a healthy and beautiful lawn - the other 2/3 are out of our control and up to you, the homeowner. Adhering to the correct cultural practices of proper irrigation and mowing means your lawn will reap the optimum results of our applications.
