Lawn Maintenance Checklist: Learn What You Need to Do Each Season

What You Need to Do Each Season

Having a lawn on your property is an asset to the environment. For this reason, you need to keep it healthy so that you can enjoy all the benefits that come with it.
A healthy lawn offers the following benefits:
It cools the air An estimate stated that landscape plants and lawns reduce the total energy requirements for air conditioning in the U.S by 25%. If you have a healthy lawn on your property, the temperature reduction may vary between 7 to 14 degrees. Lawns cool the air by evapotranspiration and providing shade. During the summer months, lawns are cooler than concrete and asphalt.
Health benefits A healthy lawn has positive health effects. It minimizes light reflection and glare. Also, it helps to reduce noise pollution by deflecting and absorbing sound.
Improves the soil Over time, a healthy lawn adds an immense quantity of manure to the ground. As a result, it helps to improve the soil structure.
Improves water quality They do this by:

Trapping and removing pollutants in the soil.
Allowing better infiltration of water into the soil.
Protecting frozen ground during winter.

Improves air quality When you have a healthy lawn covering the soil surface, it prevents soil particles from being blown into the air. Lawns help to trap dust and other harmful airborne particles. Through the photosynthetic actions of lawns, they provide an adequate supply of oxygen and a reduction of carbon dioxide in the environment.
Looking at all these benefits, you will crave to have a healthy lawn. It will also help with the curb appeal of your house, which will raise its value if you ever decide to sell it, explains Florida Property Realty .
However, the University of Florida IFAS extension explained that the lawns in Florida are prone to several environmental stresses. These include extreme temperatures, exposure to traffic or shade, nutrient deficiency, under watering or overwatering, salinity, and soil problems.
All these environmental stresses can prevent your lawn from being healthy. So how do you maintain a healthy lawn in Florida?

Seasonal maintenance checklist for lawns in Florida

Each month and season, your lawn has specific needs. With a suitable approach, you will be able to maintain a healthy lawn.
Below is the lawn maintenance checklist.

Winter

The grasses in Florida do not need so much water during winter. The dormant plants will need a small amount of water. For this reason, we advise you to:

Reduce the irrigation by half as the temperature at night gets lower.
Adjust your automatic watering system if it stays on all year.
Add lime to your soil if it is acidic. You can do this by using a fertilizer spreader or manually. If you are applying manually, ensure that you wear gloves and distribute them evenly. Invite professionals to perform a soil test when you are not sure of how much lime you need.
Winter is also a good time to mow dormant warm-season lawns. During this process, remove fallen pine needles and leaves.
Look out for winter broadleaf weeds. Contact professionals immediately if you spot them.
Remove unattractive plants and plant new trees or shrubs.
Service your mower by checking the oil, blades, and driver belt.

Spring

During this season, the temperature starts to increase. Your lawn will need more water.

Increase the watering of your lawn and continue to mow.
When mowing, do not remove more than one-third of the leaf blade.
Allow the clippings to remain on the lawn, except if your lawn grass has diseases.
During late spring, dethatch or rake coarse leaves. If you allow thatch to develop, it will weaken grasses and cause diseases.
Start taking preventive measures against clinch bugs before summer begins. You can hire professionals to handle this.

Summer

During the summer season, you may start noticing signs of drought stress because of the rising temperature. These signs may include folding, thin, and brown grasses.

Continue to water your lawn. Aim at about one inch of water per week and follow the local water restrictions.
Start aerating your lawn in early June. Doing so will help to prevent summer stress.
Keep looking out for bare spots and invite specialists immediately you find any.

Fall

The temperature starts cooling down during this season.

We recommend that you lower the rate of watering and mowing. However, do not reduce the mower’s height.
Start planting trees, shrubs, and fall greens. It gives them time to develop roots and transition into the garden.
Apply composted pine bark or balanced slow-release fertilizers.

In a nutshell: Lawn Maintenance Checklist: Learn What You Need to Do Each Season

A healthy lawn adds visual appeal to your property and also offers several benefits to the environment. The environmental conditions and grasses in Florida are unique . As a result, the lawns have specific maintenance requirements for every season.
Follow the guidelines above and ensure to always invite specialists for regular visits if you want to maintain a healthy lawn in Florida.

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