When Should I Fertilize My Florida Lawn?

There’s nothing better than looking at the beautiful green color of a well-landscaped lawn and admiring the effect it has on your property.  However, maintaining a picturesque Florida lawn is complicated!

The best part about living in Florida is the year-round sunshine. Instead of dealing with months of frigid temperatures and frost, Floridians only experience a few weeks of cold weather each year.

The beautiful climate means a longer growing season. This poses an interesting question for homeowners: when, precisely, should you fertilize your Florida lawn?

The majority of the country has the luxury of following an everyday spring lawn care routine because they can easily predict when the weather will change.

Floridians have to deal with above-average heat and variable water levels. Floods from heavy rain and droughts occur only months apart, and cold snaps are unpredictable. With minimal winter months, Florida lawns grow for a better part of the year.

This means homeowners need to educate themselves on the best time to apply fertilizers to their lawn. Before you can pinpoint the best time to fertilize, there are a few things you need to know about your Florida lawn.

What To Know Before Fertilizing Your Lawn

When you think about lawn care, fertilizer is often seen as optional. But skipping this step could be detrimental to your turf.

Fertilizer is essentially plant food that helps your lawn stay healthy, grow robust root systems, and provides enough nutrients to allow your grass to withstand whatever the growing season throws at it.

The soil provides some nutrients, but typically your grass will need more to grow strong. Proper fertilization reduces weeds and helps them recover from pest and environmental damage. Additionally, it helps promote more profound root growth, as well as healthy grass blade development.

Before fertilizing your lawn, there are a few things you need to know about your turf to provide the correct nutrients.

1. Soil Composition

The makeup of Florida soils directly impacts the growth of your turf. The best way to identify what type of fertilizer you need is to have a soil test done.

A soil test will measure your lawn’s pH level and pinpoint nutrient deficiencies that will guide you to choose the correct fertilizer. Keep your eye on essential nutrients like phosphorus and potassium.

2. Type Of Central Florida Grass

Many types of grass grow in Florida. You can find both cold weather and warm weather grasses all over the state. The species of grass on your lawn determine mowing height, growing season, and landscaping plan.

The most common types of grass are zoysia grass, St. Augustine grass, and Bahia grass. Each variety comes with a unique set of fertilization needs. If you are unsure which type or types of grasses are present on your lawn, contact an expert to help.

3. Nitrogen Levels

Nitrogen management is essential due to the high potential for leaching in Florida soils. You’ll need to test your soil to determine how much nitrogen is present. Fertilizers are labeled with pounds of nitrogen present in the product, so choosing the correct one is essential.

Too little nitrogen in the soil prevents plants from developing, while too much can prevent flowering and new growth. If nitrogen levels are too high, you will need to reduce them through lawn aeration, applying sulfates, or laying a layer of thatch or mulch across your soil.

When To Fertilize Your Florida Grass

Once you have taken steps to know your lawn’s composition, you’ll need to determine the best time to apply fertilizer.

Use this handy chart to determine the general time that you should fertilize to maintain a healthy lawn:

Remember that you need to know your soil makeup, grass type, and area’s growing season dates to formulate the best fertilization schedule.

Pro Tip: Do This Before Fertilizing Your Florida Grass

Maintaining a healthy lawn takes a lot of work. Because there are so many steps to lawn care maintenance, a lot could go wrong. Take a look at some things to keep in mind as you formulate your landscaping plan this year:

• Keep The Environment In Mind: Chemicals found in pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers can be harmful to the delicate Florida ecosystem if misused. Using the wrong amount will lead to dangerous runoff that can kill animals and compromise waterways. Never handle these chemicals unless you use the proper amounts and application process.
• Consider Your Landscaping Plan: Fertilizing is only one step in your lawn care maintenance plan. What works for your lawn may cause issues in your garden. Identify what is growing in your yard and isolate plants from your fertilizer treatment if necessary.
• Learn The Application Methods: There’s more than one way to fertilize your lawn. Granular fertilizer applied with a spreader helps prevent over-fertilization, while a fertilization pump attached to an irrigation system makes it easy to ensure an even application.

It’s easy to ruin your lawn by applying fertilizer at the wrong time or using the wrong amount. Always consult a professional to ensure your yard is getting what it needs to maintain its beauty.

LawnWorx Knows What Your Florida Lawn Needs

We know that your lawn is the pride and joy of your Florida home. Lawnworx has over 25 years of experience in treating and maintaining the lawns of the Central Florida area.

Along with the best products and knowledgeable lawn care technicians, we will bring trusted lawn care solutions to your home with our services like:

• Weed Control
• Lawn Fertilization
• Tree & Shrub Care
• Lawn Aeration Services
• Pest Control Services

Contact LawnWorx today for a free consultation and allow us to care for your lawn while you enjoy life in beautiful Central Florida.

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