Mission Beach is surrounded by salt water, and that adds to the potential lawn problems for homeowners. The effects of occasional coastal flooding can result in brown spots and damaged foliage. At Lawn Love, our main concept is using best practices for building a healthy and beautiful lawn in Mission Beach, San Diego, California.
These practices include using properly maintained equipment, mowing at the right height and watering as needed. Your Mission Beach lawn requires special care to look good because of the area's limited rainfall and salty conditions.
Best Practices for Your Mission Beach Lawn
Rinsing your lawn with water can remove excess salt, but it can also be expensive in San Diego's drought conditions, with less than 12 inches of rain per year. The climate of Mission Beach, San Diego, is classified as Mediterranean and features dry summers and cool winter weather with more moisture. Only about 25 days per year are hotter than 80 degrees.
This moderate weather is a significant benefit for residents and tourists who can enjoy the Mission Beach coastline, Sea World Park, watersports, Belmont Park and the fabulous Mission Beach Boardwalk. However, your yard can suffer from drought and salt. Soil aeration can also be a big problem in salty environments like Mission Beach where the soil is primarily compacted clay.
It's essential to test your soil with inexpensive testing kits to find out whether it has too much salinity. You can also check for nutrients. There are three types of salty soil: saline, sodic and saline/sodic soils. Adding gypsum to your soil allows the calcium in the gypsum to react to the salt and produce sodium sulfate, which quickly dissolves in water where it can be flushed from the topsoil where your plants grow. Other best practices for caring for your Mission Beach Lawn include:
Choosing the Right Grass
Three types of grass do well in Mission Beach. These include Bermuda, St. Augustine and tall fescue. Bermuda grass grows quickly, but it needs an inch of rainfall or irrigation water to thrive. St. Augustine grass tolerates drought very well, but it requires regular fertilization and regular mowing. Don't cut St. Augustine grass too short because you could remove the stolons that spread the grass laterally above ground. Tall fescue requires less water, tolerates lots of sun and germinates quickly from seed.
Watering
In Mission Beach, your watering strategy is critical. The area doesn't get enough rain naturally, so you've got to compensate. A basic rule is to water your lawn with a sprinkler in the morning at least once a week and more often if you have plants that require lots of water. Prolonged drought and heat increase your lawn's need for water.
Mowing
Knowing when to mow and how high to set the mower blades is essential to lawn health. Each type of grass grows at different rates and has an optimal height range. If your grass looks best when it's 3.5 inches tall, you should mow when it's 4 to 5 inches.
Fertilizing
Mission Beach lawns should be fertilized in the spring and fall. Depending on your soil's nutrient profile, you might need to fertilize more often.
Seeding Patchy Area
Mission Beach attracts visitors and outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, and it's quite common to experience external lawn damage caused by overly enthusiastic tourists. Heat, drought, weeds and insect pests can also damage your lawn and garden. It's vital to reseed or lay new sod in bare and patchy areas.
Using Groundcover and Hardscape Features
You can reduce your mowing and maintenance work by growing flowers and groundcover plants. Designing landscape features such as patios, walkways and rock gardens can also minimize yard maintenance and watering costs.
Carving Out "Me" Time in Mission Beach
Mission Beach has excellent weather year-round, beautiful scenery and a neighborhood appearance that's the envy of people living in landlocked communities. You might enjoy working on your lawn, but face it, lawns require upkeep year-round. You're close to the ocean, so it's important to take mental health days to lie on the beach, dip your toes in the water or visit Sea World, the local attraction that draws tourists from around the world. Let our licensed, insured and bonded teams at Lawn Love handle some or all of your lawn care needs so that you can enjoy Mission Beach and its enormous selection of recreation and entertainment options.
