Living in an area with a special climate and always changing weather patterns, like in Florida, can prove to be rather frustrating to homeowners. If you are a homeowner that loves a nicely manicured lawn, then you might want to read up on the intricacies of having a lawn in Florida. The soil and grass that is growing in your lawn could literally be the opposite of your neighbor. Consequently, if you want to keep it looking green all year round, you need to know when to fertilize and get a soil test. When to fertilize a lawn in Florida? There are various growing periods for your lawn that require fertilizer in order to remain healthy.
Let’s take a look below at what those growing periods might be and how fertilizing the lawn can keep it healthy and thriving year-round.
Why Should I Fertilize?
Believe it or not, fertilizing the lawn is a very important process in order to keep your homes curb appeal at the top. Essentially, you are feeding your lawn plant food so that it grows thick, strong, and healthy. Just like homeowners need nutrients to stay healthy, a lawn does as well. Additionally, fertilizing can promote stronger root growth and can reduce the number of weeds growing in your lawn.
When Should I Fertilize My Lawn?
Florida typically has two seasons of climate change. Just like Florida has two seasons of climate change, your lawn also has two seasons of growing and time to fertilize. Typically, you have a primary growing season in the spring and fall, or an optimal growing season in the late spring and summer. Let’s take a look below at what makes these two seasons different.
- Optimal growing season – During this season you will notice the temperatures range from 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The moment that you notice your grass is turning green in the spring you should fertilize your lawn. Also, it is recommended that you use three to four pounds of nitrogen-rich fertilizer for up to 1,000 square feet of yard. Consequently, watering the lawn after you apply fertilizer is necessary to ensure that the fertilizer gets down into the soil and root systems.
- Primary growing season – During this season you will see temperatures range between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, you should use one to two pounds of nitrogen-rich fertilizer to cover up to 1,000 square feet of yard. You will want to fertilize often during the early fall and spring months. Also, check your local hardware store for the most recommended fertilizer to fit your lawn’s needs.
How Much Does It Cost?
Determining how much fertilizer you will need to properly cover your lawn will depend on the size of the yard and where you live. The national average cost for a bag of fertilizer is around $50. If you decide to pay a landscaping company to come out and fertilize the lawn, you will likely pay between $150 and $400.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you have an understanding of when to fertilize your yard in Florida, you can begin looking into upgrading your landscaping rock beds. Before adding more rock be sure to place landscaping fabric down. Make sure that you slope it so that the majority of water runs off the top of the landscaping fabric.
Next, you can also add landscaping to keep water away from the home. Essentially, this involves adding bushes, plants, gutters, downspouts, and more. Also, you can make the yard look nice by making these additions to the property.
Lastly, let’s take a look at some other areas in the yard. One of those is ornamental grass. Sometimes the ornamental grass will turn brown. Typically, this is caused by overwatering or underwatering. Also, they are just dormant in the winter. Make sure you understand how they work before replacing them.
When Do I Call A Professional?
When it comes to choosing the right fertilizer for your lawn, you should read the labels on the packaging. Your various local hardware stores will sell a variety of consumer products for fertilizing your yard. Make sure that you select the one that meets the needs of your specific grass. If you aren’t sure what to purchase have your local home inspection team come out and take a look. They can recommend a reputable lawn care company.
Conclusion
Understanding which fertilizer works best for your soil and lawn can be a bit tricky. When it comes to selecting the right product it wouldn’t hurt to reach out to the experts. In some cases, your local home inspection and pest control company might be able to assist with fertilizing your lawn. Reach out to Honor Services to assist you with your fertilization needs while conducting a thorough home inspection in Melbourne, FL, and surrounding areas.
