Thursday, April 19, 2012

Saint Augustine - Popular Sod for Florida

St Augustine grass is a popular choice for Central Florida homes and commercial facilities with large parcels of land because it withstands high temperatures and makes for a lush, green lawn.

Coarse in texture and dark green in color, Saint Augustine is similar to bermuda grass and can survive in sunny, tropical areas; however, this type of grass is highly vulnerable to cooler temperatures. Because there are no seeds, St Augustine grass is typically planted as sprigs, plugs or sod.

When to Re-sod St. Augustine in Central Florida
If you're considering planting St Augustine grass, the best time to do so is during the spring or early months of summer. During the beginning growth stage, you should water your St. Augustine grass frequently throughout the day and in short periods.

A sod installer should inspect the sod carefully to guarantee the absence of visible weeds, insects, or stressed areas. The sod installation company should put the sod down as quickly as possible after delivery, but if there are delays, storing the sod in a cool, shady place until ready to plant is best. Sod life on pallets during summer is less than 48 hours. The area to be planted needs to be properly tilled and rakes smooth before the sod is even delivered. Fitting sod pieces together as tightly as possible, and filling cracks with cut up pieces of sod is important. The sod company should tamp or roll the sod to remove air pockets and ensure good soil contact so that it does not dry out during the initial growth phase.

When to Cut Your Grass

Begin mowing as soon as the sod has rooted and the grass will no longer "lift" when pulled on at the edges. Be sure to use a mower with a sharp blade. Remember not to mow when the grass is wet. If clippings are heavy enough to shade the grass, use a bag catch on the mower or rake and remove them. Otherwise, clippings should be left on the ground.

Be sure not to mow too closely. St Augustine grass can become weakened and prone to weeds when cut too short. If you live in an area where there is a drought or shortage of rainfall, avoid cutting the grass altogether, as this can add additional stress.

New grass will need about inches of water per week and established grass should receive one and one half inches per week. The most important thing is not to over water. Over watering new sod can make grass "lazy". If the surface of the land is always moist, the plants roots don't need to reach far down into the soil. The grass will let you know if it needs watering. It's simple, if it is dry water it.

Orlando Lawn Care and Maintenance

St. Augustine grass likes to be fed. If given the appropriate amount of fertilizer, this type of grass will produce an aesthetically pleasing appearance, as well as resist weed growth. For the grass to change green rapidly, professional lawn care companies use a fertilizer that's made up of fast-release nitrogen.

For more information about the leading residential and commercial sod supplier in Central Florida, contact Miller Enviro-Care.

As your sod replacement specialist, Miller Enviro-Care has over 30 years of combined experience in Pest Prevention, Termite Protection, Irrigation Systems, Sod Supply and Lawn Care Solutions. Based in Oviedo, we are in business to protect the health, food, property and quality of our environment for customers throughout the Orlando area including, but not limited to Winter Springs, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Maitland, Lake Mary, Sanford, Apopka and Winter Park.

For a free estimate, call 407.359.8888 or visit http://millerenvirocare.com.

No comments: