We don’t usually have to prepare for deep freezes or heavy snow in our area of Central/Southern Florida, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the care of our lawns and landscaping just because the weather is cooler. Here are some cool weather tips for you.
Last Chance to Fertilize – You want to fertilize before your grass goes dormant for the winter. For our area of Florida, that means if you haven’t already, October is the latest you should do this. You don’t want to encourage new growth during the colder winter months.
Apply Herbicides Before Weeds Germinate – Timing is important in applying pre-emergence herbicides. Too early and too often will stunt your lawn grass roots. Too late and weed seedlings will be established and the herbicide will be ineffective. October is a good month to apply for many of the weeds here.
To Overseed or Not to Overseed – Many of the popular Florida grasses will go dormant and brown during the cooler season. To keep a green lawn during this time, you can overseed with a fast-growing, cooler weather grass like ryegrass. October/November is the ideal time for this. Now is also the time to lay sod so it will take hold and be dense and healthy come spring.
Good Time for Green Thumbs – If you like to garden, October is the time to start planting greens like broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, and lettuce, and other vegetables, including carrots, cucumbers, radishes, and onions.
Keep an Eye Out for Lawn Pests – A downside to not having the hard freezes of our northern neighbors is that pests can remain active through the fall. Armyworms, webworms, mole crickets, fire ants, and chinch bugs should all be watched for. However, be careful in attempts to control as overdoing pest treatments can cause more damage to the lawn than the pests would.
Make Sure Your Watering System is in Working Order with The Irrigation Experts
You may have watered less during the rainy season. Make sure your irrigation system is in good working order heading into the fall. Grass may grow year-round in Florida, but it will slow down and require less water in cooler weather. Don’t halt watering, but you may want to water less to avoid over-watering.
If you have any questions about irrigation needs during the cooler season or need to install or repair your lawn watering system, contact Challenger Irrigation. We service Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and Citrus counties with new irrigation system installation, or repair for existing systems. Call us to set up an appointment today!