As winter fades away and the warmth of spring emerges, it's time to prepare your lawn for the season ahead. Here in North Florida, spring brings not only blooming flowers, but also some challenges for maintaining a healthy, appealing, and lush lawn. 

After going through over 20 years of watching lawns react to spring, we're here to share the top five lawn care tips that are specific to North Florida to help improve your lawn’s curb appeal.

1. Weed Invasion Defense:
With the onset of spring, the warmer temperatures create the perfect environment for weeds to thrive. To combat this, a combination of pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control is essential for your turf.

We also emphasize the importance of addressing weeds in mulch beds, as they can quickly spread and detract from your landscape's curb appeal.

The key for weed control, if you’re going to DIY it, is to learn the fundamentals before getting started. Every year, we average about 1-2 calls a week from a homeowner who says, “I bought something at the home improvement store, used it on my lawn, and now it’s all dying. What happened?!?”
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The common denominator in each of these calls is one or a combination of the following:

• Used a product for the wrong type of grass (for example, they used a weed control product made for Bahia or Centipede on St. Augustine grass)
• Used a product made for 10,000 sq ft of grass on 3,000 sq ft of grass. (basically overusing the product because they didn’t measure their lawn or didn’t read the label)
• Used a combination of products that singularly would work fine, however when applied together on the lawn had an adverse effect.

The lesson from these other DIY mistakes is to learn the fundamentals before starting; which are to know your type (or types) of predominant turfgrasses, know the measurements of your lawn and rates for product you're applying, and lastly, know your products timelines of effectiveness. 

2. Spring Irrigation Tune-Up:
As temperatures rise, North Florida experiences a dry spell that catches many homeowners off guard. Often, irrigation systems have been reduced or turned off during the winter months, leading to drought stress on lawns when temperatures increase in March.

Many homeowners also neglect servicing their sprinkler system, using the ‘set it and forget it’ mentality - not adjusting for seasonal changes or servicing it to ensure it’s covering properly.

Regular servicing and seasonal checkups are crucial to ensure your irrigation system is functioning efficiently and preventing dry patches in your yard. 

Without the proper amount of moisture in your lawn, fertilizer and weed control will have a negative effect on your turf’s health. 

3. Preventing Pests:
Springtime brings the awakening of pests that can wreak havoc on your lawn if left unchecked. Chinch bugs, Mole Crickets, and other landscape pests can cause a lot of St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda grass damage quickly if left to a reactive approach to landscape pest control.

Whether you DIY or want to partner with a local north florida pest control service such as ours, it is vital during the growing season to protect your lawn. If you choose the DIY route, be sure to use preventive measures rather than relying solely on contact products after you have an infestation.

Integrated Pest Management practices such as proper mowing height and irrigation management play a major part in preventing lawn insect damage. 

4. Soil and Lawn Nutrition:
Proper fertilization is key to promoting lush, healthy growth in your lawn. By timing fertilizer applications correctly in the spring, you can provide your turf with the essential nutrients it needs to thrive.

The result? A vibrant, dark green lawn that enhances your outdoor space.

If your home is new construction (within the past 3-5 years) or fertilization isn’t offering the results you desire, you might consider topdressing to boost your soil nutrition. Soil’s pH and poor quality can make fertilizer wasted due to the turf’s inability to take up nutrients.

Topdressing with quality soil makes a major difference for lawns suffering through that.

5. Bed Definition:
Don't overlook the importance of well-defined bed edges and crisp bed lines to give your landscape great curb appeal. Tidying up your landscape with defined beds and fresh mulch not only improves the health of the landscape long-term, but also elevates your curb appeal immediately.

The contrast from a green lawn to defined dark mulch beds gives attention to detail that makes your landscape stand out and make a lasting impression.

As you prepare your lawn for the spring season, remember that investing in professional lawn care services can save you time, effort, and frustration. The Master’s is dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful lawn that you can enjoy year-round.

For personalized advice and assistance, our lawn and pest control professionals are ready to help! Contact us now at (352) 378-5296 or (904) 913-5296 or fill out our form at the top of the page, we would love to help!

When you think of lawn care services in St. Augustine, FL the first thing that might come to mind is simple mowing or fertilizing. But did you know that these experts are also talented landscape designers with a wide range of specialties? Imagine transforming your lawn into a magnificent space that reflects your personal aesthetic while also being functional and environmentally friendly. The expertise of these professionals goes far beyond trimming grass, and it's time you discover the breadth of their capabilities in landscape design.

Related: Need Better St. Augustine, FL Lawn Care? Here is What to Expect from Professional Lawn Care Services

Landscape Enhancements for a Flourishing Yard

Your yard is an extension of your living space, and the right landscape enhancements can turn it into a paradise. Incorporating sod can revive those patchy areas, giving you lush green expansiveness. And there's nothing like the natural beauty and shade that trees introduce to a yard. Adding strategic plantings, combined with the right mulch, can not only provide color and texture but also benefit the soil and overall health of your landscape.

The Magic of Artificial Turf

While there's no denying the beauty of natural grass, the maintenance it demands isn't for everyone. That's where artificial turf comes into play. It offers a green, pristine appearance year-round without the constant need for watering, mowing, or fertilizing. Whether you have children who love playing outside or pets that are tough on grass, artificial turf withstands wear and tear, ensuring your yard always looks its best.

Hardscape Wonders: More Than Just Patios

Hardscape elements, such as paver patios, firepits, and retaining walls, bring structure and function to your landscape. They offer gathering places for family and friends or simply a tranquil spot where you can enjoy your morning coffee. Firepits, especially, can be a centerpiece, turning cool evenings into cozy outdoor events. Retaining walls, on the other hand, are both functional and decorative, helping to prevent erosion and delineate spaces within your yard.

Solving Water Woes with Drainage and French Drains

No one likes a waterlogged yard, especially after heavy rain. Proper drainage systems, including French drains, are essential for directing water away from areas where it's unwelcome. This helps to prevent pooling, which can damage plantings and hardscape elements. With the right drainage system, your yard remains dry and healthy, ensuring longevity for all your landscape features.

Combat Erosion Effectively

Erosion can slowly degrade your landscape, causing soil and valuable nutrients to wash away. Erosion control measures are essential, especially in areas with slopes or where water runoff is a concern. The right techniques can prevent this gradual depletion, preserving your landscape's integrity and beauty for years to come.

Embrace the Elegance of Dry Creek Beds and Landscape Boulders

Dry creek beds are more than just an aesthetic choice; they are functional elements that help manage water runoff, channeling it in desired directions. These beds, coupled with landscape boulders, can create stunning visual features, blending the soft textures of plantings with the ruggedness of stones.

Illuminate Your Landscape

Outdoor lighting can elevate your yard from ordinary to extraordinary. It's not just about visibility but also about setting a mood. Whether you're highlighting a particularly beautiful tree, illuminating walkways for visibility, or setting a soft glow around your paver patio, the right outdoor lighting choices can make a significant difference. It can transform your landscape into a magical space as the sun sets, ready for nighttime relaxation or entertainment.

Related: Achieve an Effortless Landscape by Partnering With Reliable Lawn Service Near Me in the Sawgrass and St. Augustine, FL Areas

Our region, with its tropical and subtropical climate, provides a haven for diverse flora and fauna. For residents of High Springs and Gainesville, FL this means lush landscapes filled with vibrant plantings and expansive lawns. But it also means navigating the challenges of maintaining these spaces amidst the changing seasons. From intense sun in the summers to the occasional cold snap in winters, each season has its own set of challenges that can affect the health and appearance of your landscape and lead homeowners to search for “lawn service near me.” 

Related: Enjoy a Vibrant Outdoor Space With a Creative Landscape Design and a Skilled Lawn Care Team in the High Springs, FL Area

How Each Season Affects Your Landscape

Florida's climate is unique, offering mild winters but also hot, wet summers. This range of conditions means your landscape faces different challenges and requirements throughout the year.

Spring: As temperatures begin to rise, so does the growth rate of plantings and grass. This is the time for new blooms and fresh green shoots. However, it also means that weeds start their growth spurt, making spring a crucial time for weed control and lawn care.

Summer: The Florida sun can be relentless during the peak summer months. While the rains provide some relief, they can also lead to overwatering issues. This season requires consistent mowing, irrigation checks, and the management of any fungal diseases that thrive in hot, wet conditions.

Fall: As temperatures start to dip, it's the perfect time to prepare the lawn for the colder months ahead. Fertilization, aeration, and seeding might be necessary to ensure the grass remains healthy and resilient.

Winter: While Florida winters are relatively mild, occasional cold snaps can harm tropical plantings. It's essential to protect sensitive plantings from frost and ensure that the lawn remains well-maintained, even in the cooler months.

Why Professional Lawn Service Makes a Difference

Maintaining a landscape in a climate as diverse as Florida's can feel like a full-time job. The variability of weather conditions means that homeowners need to be on their toes, ready to adapt their lawn care strategies with each changing season. This is where professional lawn services come into play.

Expertise: Lawn care professionals have the training and knowledge to understand the specific needs of landscapes in different seasons. They can identify potential problems early on and implement solutions before they escalate.

Tools and Equipment: From aerators to specialized fertilizers, lawn care companies come equipped with the necessary tools to ensure that your landscape remains in top shape year-round.

Consistency: Perhaps the most significant benefit of hiring a professional service is consistency. Regular scheduled maintenance ensures that potential issues are addressed promptly, and your landscape gets the care it deserves on a routine basis.

Customized Solutions for Every Landscape

No two landscapes are the same. The combination of plantings, lawn type, and even the quality of soil can vary widely from one property to the next. This diversity means that a one-size-fits-all approach to lawn care simply won't do.

A lawn service will begin with an in-depth assessment of your specific landscape. They'll identify the types of grass and plantings, check the soil quality, and understand the particular challenges your lawn faces. With this information in hand, they can craft a customized care plan that addresses the unique needs of your landscape.

Some lawns might require more frequent mowing in the summer months, while others might benefit from specific fertilizers that cater to the type of grass or plantings present. This tailored approach ensures that every aspect of your landscape gets the attention it needs, irrespective of the season.

Related: Trust the Experts in Lawn Care to Achieve Healthy and Lush Grass in the Newberry and High Springs, FL Areas

Spring has sprung and our schedule is filling up fast with homeowners seeking our help to turn their lawn around.

To lend a helping hand, we've gone through our archives of past lawn success stories and asked our team to choose their favorite ones to share some before-and-after pictures.

These turnarounds include a range of improvements, such as fertilizing, aeration, topdressing, and irrigation - which can transform an unhealthy or patchy lawn into a lush, healthy, and vibrant green space.

Check out our top 5 Lawn Turnaround projects:

1. Project Spotlight: Lawn Health Renovation
We had the pleasure of working with a client who had recently built a home in Oakmont and was fed up with their struggling lawn.

After a lawn consultation, we devised a comprehensive plan of action that included aeration, topdressing with Comand Compost, a Lawn Health Program, and proper weekly maintenance.

And guess what? In just 8 weeks, his lawn transformed tremendously! Check out the amazing before and after pictures.

2. Lawn Project Spotlight: From Stressed and Dying to Lush and Green
This lawn was in bad shape. It was drought-stressed, nutrient-deficient, and pest-damaged, and was deteriorating quickly. But with the expertise of our lawn health and irrigation teams, we were able to turn things around in no time!

We implemented a variety of solutions including proper sprinkler adjustments and repair, soil amendments, lawn fertilization service, weed control, and treating the lawn every 6-9 weeks with our lawn pest control program.

And guess what? In just a couple of months, this lawn went from being down and out to being the star of the show! We couldn't be happier with the results!

3. Lawn Project Spotlight: Zoysia Lawn spreads from Plugs to Picture of Perfection
This concerned client reached out to us regarding their lawn and was seeking help to revive it. They had planted Zoysia plugs in their huge front yard a year ago, but unfortunately, the plugs were being overrun by weeds.

The lawn had become predominantly dirt and weeds rather than lush grass. They wondered if there was anything that could be done to rescue it.

Our lawn pest control team took a soil sample, took some photos, and went to the drawing board to put together a program that would work. Their lawn took off like wildfire!!!

4. Project Spotlight: From Sandy Soil to Lush and Green
With our expertise and passion for transforming outdoor spaces, we were able to make this client's landscape dreams a reality!

We installed an irrigation system to get water to all of his plants as well as the lawn, and spread Comand Soil and Topdressing over the lawn to improve the soil composition. To top it off, we installed beautiful sod over his entire lawn.

And now, he sends us photos of his dogs happily playing in the backyard, showing just how much he loves his new and improved lawn.

5. Project Spotlight: Lawn Health Rehab
This client contacted us in hopes of diagnosing their lawn problems and wanted to see if there was anything to be done that would save it.

After an in-depth lawn analysis, we discovered active chinch bugs were not being controlled and eating away at the turf.

We then put together a lawn program that would help not only control chinch bugs actively, but preventatively going forward as well.

With some patience and understanding of a lawn program, it ended up saving about $10k of sod work because we did not have to add any sod or sod plugs - just proper lawn health and irrigation to keep it growing.

As you can see, with our help, many homeowners have transformed their outdoor living space and our team is proud to show that off! As the trend for outdoor living is set to continue growing this year, use these projects for your own outdoor living inspiration and give us a call! Let's get to work!
 

If you’re looking to extend your outdoor living space, please contact us at (352) 378-5296 or (904) 913-5296 or fill out our form at the top of the page, we would love to help!

Your landscaping action plan for upkeep should change with the seasons. During the winter months in North Florida lawns, the grass is semi-dormant – growing but at a slower pace and almost barely growing at all. Not having to mow the grass as often leaves us with a bit more time on our hands to take care of other landscape projects that are perfect for winter months.

We've gathered some tasks to help you keep momentum in your lawn and keep your landscape looking beautiful during the winter. Don’t hesitate to share this to your neighbors as well!

This way, the entire neighborhood can look forward to a beautiful lawn in spring.

Tree pruning

Many North Florida homeowners think of Winter Crape Myrtle pruning (Crape Myrtle Pruning: When and How?) as the only winter tree pruning necessary. However, fruit trees and many of your typical Florida trees prefer pruning in winter over the other seasons.

Why? Fresh cuts are especially susceptible to insects during the warm months because they serve as habitats for germs and fungi that damage trees' health. Pruning during the dormant season keeps your trees healthy and reduces their susceptibility to attack as the weather warms and insect activity picks up.

This also ensures your Gainesville or Nocatee Lawn and Landscape gets proper sunlight to rejuvenate in spring.

When is the best time to trim/prune landscape ornamentals?

Remove fallen leaves from turf and flower beds

The trees in your yard lose their leaves for a few weeks every year. The timescale can vary depending on the kinds of trees you have, such as oaks, sycamores, pines, maples, etc. Leaves can suffocate your grass and block the sunshine that keeps it healthy if they are not controlled. Your only chance of having a beautiful lawn is to remove or clean up any fallen leaves. - As leaves finish falling, remove them from the lawn to allow sunlight and Lawn health applications to enrich your grass.

Granular lawn fertilization applications aren't affected by leaves as they roll down into the turf - however liquid and weed control applications are soaked up by the leaves, stealing the nutrients. This is why we recommend using a full-service lawn provider that offers Lawn maintenance service along with the lawn Fertilization program. Packaging them together ensures the two services work together for the health of your Gainesville lawn.

Protect sensitive plants during frosts

Even though the winters affecting Ponte Vedra lawns and the rest of North Florida are generally mild, a freeze will nevertheless happen.

Without winter plant protection, it only takes one night of exposure to wind and temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees for your delicate plants or shrubs to suffer cold damage.

Your more tender and tropical plants such as smaller Palms, Philodendrons, Crotons, Ginger, and others have a tendency toward frost damage on colder nights.

Pro Tip: Use fabric, bedding, light blankets, burlap, or other plant-specific covering that you may purchase at your neighborhood home improvement store. Avoid covering them with plastic since it will result in water droplets from condensation appearing on the leaves, which can cause freeze burn.

Tips for Covering Plants in a Freeze
What do I do with these frost damaged plants?

Power Wash your Home and Hardscape

Summer can leave homes and hardscapes moldy, slippery, and unsightly. Power washing aids in removing these buildups of dirt and giving a bright and fresh appearance.

Power washing a building's exterior can improve curb appeal in more ways than just by keeping it clean. Having hardscape and fences cleaned will also contribute to the property's improved curb appeal by giving it a more spotless appearance.

Schedule this prior to the holidays if you have guests coming over, or use it as a great Christmas gift in the form of a gift card for your significant other!

Pro Tip: Make sure to avoid power washing in  temperatures below 40 degrees. If the temperature is too cold, it could damage your pressure washer or the surfaces you're washing.

Prepare your landscape plants for spring

Plants frost back in winter and need care before spring to be set up for success going into spring. Starting now will help ensure that your St. John's landscaping is successful in the coming months.

When older growth is removed by strategically pruning back perennial plants like roses, hibiscus, and azaleas, they grow more densely and attractive. Be sure to remove weeds, fallen branches, dead leaves, and plant debris.

To defend against frost and avoid compaction apply a layer of compost to raised beds before covering it with a thin layer of mulch. We recommend Comand topsoil as a great compost for this. The compost's nutrients slowly seep into the soil over the winter. Still allowing both sunlight and rain, it also keeps the soil warm, allowing you to plant earlier in the spring.

If we can be of help with any of your winter landscape tasks - please don't hesitate to reach out to us at (352) 378-LAWN or (904) 913-LAWN or fill out our form at the top of the page!

Although the word 'pest' is typically used to describe an insect such as chinch bugs or webworms, the term is actually used to describe anything that is unwanted. (Perhaps you remember what you may have called your little sibling growing up?) In this case, a lawn certainly is not improved by being pestered with a lack of one of it's three basic needs) Wondering what pests may be the problem in your lawn? Check out our list of 10 common lawn pests and solutions to get rid of them!

1. Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are small pests that can cause a large amount of damage to your lawn. Chinch bugs suck the moisture out of grass blades, then replace that moisture with a poison that kills the grass. Lawns that have been affected by chinch bugs appear to have drought-like symptoms, including yellow, brown, or dead grass. Chinch bugs are most prevalent from late spring to mid-fall and are typically found in St. Augustine lawns, although they are occasionally found in Zoysia yards as well.

• YouTube: How can I tell if Chinch Bugs are in my Gainesville lawn?
• Quick Tip: Why Gainesville Chinch Bugs Aren't a Cinch to Control
• Why are Gainesville Chinch Bugs so dangerous for Gainesville grass?

2. Crabgrass

Crabgrass is an annual summer weed. While it germinates in early spring and completes its life cycle by fall, crabgrass seeds can lay dormant in your soil, waiting for next season to bring soil temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Several different types of crabgrass can be found in Florida.

    • Gainesville Pest of the Month: Crabgrass
    • Gainesville Lawn Weed and Disease Control Tips
    • A Tool to Identify Common Gainesville Florida Lawn Weeds

3. Drought Stress

St. Augustine and Zoysia lawns are the easiest to diagnose drought stress in. Both leaves have a midvein that acts as a “spine” for each individual blade, allowing it to open and close as needed.  Healthy, well-watered grass blades will appear almost completely flat and totally open. When grass begins to dry out, the blade will close in half upon itself, to reduce its surface area to the sun and thus conserve water. This will also give the grass a “hazy” look, as the backs of the blades are not as deep a green as the enclosed fronts.

• Gainesville Landscape Pest of the month: Drought Stress
• 5 Lawn Tips in times of Drought
• YouTube: 3 Basic Needs of a Lawn - #2 is Water (Drought stress)

4. Tropical Sod Webworm

Sod webworms are a common nuisance in St. Augustine and Zoysia lawns. Sometimes they're just pesky and can be easily ignored, but often they can destroy a lawn as they multiply. Even minor infestations in poorly managed turfgrass stressed by hot, humid, and rainy weather can cause problems for homeowners and property managers. Because it’s difficult to detect this pest early on, managing sod webworms may present challenges without proactive lawn treatments.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Sod Webworms
• YouTube: How to identify sod webworms and how to control them
• Quick Tip: Are moths damaging my Gainesville lawn?

5. Doveweed

Doveweed is an aggressive summer annual turfgrass weed. Its long leaves resemble St. Augustine grass in appearance, so this weed can grow unnoticed for some time. But doveweed doesn't just invade St. Augustine grass, it also takes hold in Bermuda, hybrid Bermuda, and zoysia grass. Not only can doveweed be an annoyance to people who are trying to grow turfgrass, it can also cause serious contact dermatitis for dogs that come in contact with the weed.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Doveweed
• YouTube: Two of the most invasive Gainesville Lawn Weeds: Doveweed and Basketgrass

6. Take-All Root Rot

Take-All Root Rot is a fungal disease that lives in the soil and attacks turf when conditions are favorable. Most commonly, it is found in St. Augustine lawns, however it can also be found in Bermuda and even Zoysia turfgrasses.

• Quick Tip: What is Take-All Root Rot in my Gainesville Lawn?
• How This Rain Can Negatively Affect Your Gainesville Lawn

7. Armyworms

The armyworm is the most common cause of damaged turfgrass on golf courses, athletic fields, and home landscapes.The larva of armyworms can cause rapid, significant loss of leaf tissue in turfgrass. They feed primarily on Bermuda and Ryegrasses in our area, but can also move to Zoysia and St. Augustine grass where they swarm.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Armyworms

8. Nutsedge

Nutsedge, also called nutgrass, is an aggressive weed that often plagues lawns in the wet seasons like we have been in. There are several different varieties of nutsedge, and they're all perennial weeds in the sedge family that regrow each year and reproduce in a manner that makes them difficult to manage.

• Gainesville Lawn Pest of the Month: Nutsedge Grass
• Quick Tip: Is Nutsedge Driving you NUTS?
• YouTube: How do I control green "sandspurs" in my lawn?

9. Brown Patch Fungus

Brown Patch lawn disease is triggered in a consistent time of year as the weather transitions from Summer to Winter or Winter to Summer (transition seasons of spring and fall). Brown Patch will be identified by circular browning patches of lawn which will continue to grow in size from the size of a dinner plate up to a few feet in diameter. Multiple circles of Brown Patch are common on St Augustine lawns infected by the disease.

• YouTube: How To Prevent Brown Patch Fungus in your Gainesville Lawn
• Why are there brown spots in my Gainesville lawn?

10. Broadleaf Weeds

Broadleaf weeds in North Florida lawns are not only a nuisance, but they actually make it more difficult for your grass recovering from winter frost damage to fill back in and recover. Weed control applications with pre-emergent and post-emergent products are a must for North Florida lawns looking to recover from a tough winter. Proper identification of weeds is a must for targeted control with so many different herbicides on the market.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Broadleaf Weeds

Dealing with pests is often easier said than done. While you may find some success taking a DIY route, you’ll more than likely end up with incomplete pest control and recurring infestations. For best results, we recommend partnering with a professional team like ours here at The Master's Lawn Care with decades of experience and the industry’s leading products and technology, we are equipped to handle outdoor pest infestations of all kinds in North Florida yards.

If you're tired of fighting the battle for St. Augustine pest control or need a Nocatee lawn care program, call our office at (904) 813-LAWN. If you have questions about your Gainesville lawn pest program, please call (352) 378-LAWN or fill out our online form so we can schedule a meeting to discuss how we can help!