Avoid these grass killers!

These common grass killers in Florida can destroy even the most beautiful and well-maintained lawns. Don’t let your hard work and money go to waste; call Anthony’s Lawn and Landscape to help you get the best out of your lawn!

Weeds: Weeds are the natural enemy of grass. Weeds can spread very rapidly and compete with your grass for the nutrients in the soil. Not only do they contaminate your lawn with unsightly growth, but they also keep your existing grass from getting the nutrients it needs to thrive and grow. 

It is important to understand which type of grass you want to grow and make sure to give it an optimal chance of survival. Proper watering is vital (too much water will drown the grass, not enough will allow the weeds to take all the moisture before the grass gets a chance). Soil selection is also important, St. Augustine grass, for example, does best in sandy soil. Sandy soil allows more air to pass through so the roots don’t get stuck or waterlogged as they may in a dense, packed soil such as clay.

Fertilizer and herbicides are also useful for combating weeds but must be used with caution or they can be counterproductive, killing the grass along with the weeds.

Mowing too short: It may seem like a good idea to cut your grass close to the ground. After all, that means it will take more time before you have to mow again, right? While this may be technically true, cutting too close can really damage your grass, even to the point of killing it. Cutting your grass too close is commonly referred to as scalping. It’s easy to see where the name comes from. If your scalp gets damaged on your head, the hair won’t be able to grow. This concept applies to your lawn care as well. The grass leaves need to be long enough to provide shade to the root systems and absorb sunlight for energy. Also, if the grass is cut too close to shade itself, the now-direct sunlight can quickly evaporate the water in the soil before the roots get a chance to absorb it. On top of that, if the grass is too short, it may not be able to grow its roots deeply. A shallow root system will not hold up as well to agitation from foot traffic or your lawnmower.

Sun vs. Shade: All plants need sunlight to grow, but some require more than others. Most grasses in Florida handle the heat pretty well, but it is important to know the ideal environment for your grass. For example, St. Augustine grass does very well in direct sunlight, whereas Bahia tends to perform better in the shade than St. Augustine. Make sure you have the right grass for your environment or at least make sure your yard is designed to support your existing grass in the best way.

Grass Clipping Accumulation: After mowing, it is important to make sure there isn’t too much cut-grass lying all over your lawn. This can be a big grass killer if not addressed. Ideally, the sun would dry it out and the wind would blow it away without too much trouble, but if it rains after mowing and that stuff is still out there, it can snuff out your lawn. The dead grass will absorb the rain, not letting it make its way to the roots below. Then, if left too long, the leftover grass clippings will begin to rot and block the sunlight to the healthy grass below. You don’t want to waste the effort of mowing your grass just to have it die a few days later because it wasn’t cleaned up properly. If you start the job, make sure you finish it! 

It’s a lot of work caring for your lawn. If you want your home or business to look its best and avoid these grass killers, call the experts at Anthony’s Lawn and Landscaping. We have been making our customers happy for years and will be happy to do the same for you.