The lawn, or turf as it is technically referred to by experts, is a staple of American homes. Few residences in America are considered complete without a vibrant green lawn in the front yard, backyard, or both. However, maintaining a lush, green lawn takes some work, especially in the harsh climate of southwest Florida. While tradition says this is a chore for those who are part of the household, it’s possible, especially for individuals with large properties, to leave it to the experts. Professional lawn care encompasses many different components. If you’d like to get specific details, contact GreenEdge for any questions not answered on this list of Southwest Florida lawn care FAQs.
When Do I Need Lawn Care From Professionals?
Typical lawn maintenance, such as trimming down the length of the grass to keep it neat and manageable, is something you can do on your own if you wish. But there are times when trimming isn’t enough. After all, the grass is a living organism, and that means it is vulnerable to certain threats such as parasitic insects, severe environmental conditions such as insufficient water, and epidemics that affect plant life.
If any of those harmful factors affect your lawn, mowing it or giving it regular access to water may not be enough. You’ll need professional assessment and intervention to find the exact cause and the solution that will restore your lawn to its lush, green self.
What Can Happen To My SW Florida Lawn?
There are issues with a lawn that can threaten its look and health, and they have nothing to do with diligently mowing the turf to keep things trim and neat. The most common threats are the following:
Florida Lawn Insects
Certain insects can feed on and damage grass. If they gather in sufficient numbers, they can visibly damage large portions of your lawn. Mole crickets, for example, feed on turf roots, so you won’t see them often but they will affect both your lawn and the soil. Fire ants create large ant hills that can be unsightly and a nasty surprise for the unwary.
Florida Lawn Diseases
One of the most common causes of grass becoming sick is the invasion of fungus. Brown patch fungus lives up to its name by causing a brown discoloration, while rust fungus creates a sickly orange sheen on grass. Overwatering and drought can both be an invitation to a host of problems for turf.
Florida Lawn Weeds
Often insects, disease or water issues will damage turf and open the door for weeds to move in and threaten turf. These include broad, leafy weeds like dollar weed and similarly grassy weeds like crabgrass or Bermuda grass – really any kind of grass that is not intentionally planted in your lawn.
What Will Lawn Care Professionals Do?
When you seek professional help, you get a lot more than someone showing up with a lawnmower and perhaps a bag of fertilizer. If you’re not sure of what the problem could be —for instance, mole crickets since they are subterranean—a lawn care expert will first conduct an assessment. Once the problem has been identified, it’s time to get a handle on the scope of the problem as well as the treatment.
Of course, with weeds, insects, and other parasitic threats, there is no magical cure that can get rid of the problem in minutes. They can only be eliminated with the sustained effort that has to be maintained in order for the results to last. Once your yard’s issues have been diagnosed, our lawn maintenance crews will follow up lawn care treatments with regular mowing, edging, verti-cutting, soil top dressing and other services as needed to keep your lawn green and beautiful even in the hot Sarasota Florida sun
Are All Lawn Care Treatments Safe For Pets?
This depends on the type of treatment. After they are applied, most treatments will dry or penetrate quickly. However, if your lawn is getting a pesticide treatment, make sure you follow the guidance of your hired professional to ensure family members or pets aren’t exposed to chemicals that may be harmful to them. While there are no long-term hazards due to lawn care, some treatments may present a short-term health risk.