Fort Myers is famous for its warm weather and pleasant atmosphere. The city enjoys nine months of sunshine a year, and the winters are typically mild. Even summers, which can be brutal in other parts of Florida, are usually bearable in this city.
Many homeowners in the city take great pride in maintaining perfectly manicured lawns. But don't let the lush turfs fool you; lawn care in Fort Myers can be hard work. It requires consistent effort and meticulous attention. Unsurprisingly, therefore, most people leave the task to professional Fort Myers lawn care companies. Here is all you need to know about lawn care in Fort Myers.
Popular grasses in Fort Myers
If you are looking for hardy, resilient grass, then Bahia grass is undoubtedly the choice for you. This slow-growing grass is resistant to most other problems that lawn grass faces. It does well in poor soils and can withstand heavy traffic. It can also tolerate drought with fantastic ease. Pests and diseases do not affect it as much as they do other types of grass. It is tolerant of high soil salinity, which makes it perfect for your beach properties. It, however, does not do well in the shade, so make sure that your lawn has ample exposure to sunlight before you choose this grass type.
Centipede grass is lime-colored, low maintenance sod. It takes time to grow and establish, which means that you won't have to mow it frequently. It is, however, highly susceptible to pests and diseases and does not recover quickly from damage. You will need frequent Fort Myers weed control services with this grass type. Centipede grass does not tolerate heavy traffic well, so don't choose it if you intend to use your yard frequently. It thrives in the shade, but it has low salt tolerance.
St Augustine grass is prevalent in Florida thanks to its lush turf and attractive blue-green hue. It is a quick-growing grass, which means you have to mow it regularly. For this grass, you will have to get regular Fort Myers yard clean up services. It tolerates traffic well but is particularly susceptible to diseases and pests. It is a tenacious grass that does well even in weed-ridden yards.
Ryegrass is the best sod for overseeding; it helps your lawn recover from winter damage and return to its former glorious self. It is typically planted in the fall as the temperatures start to cool off. If your yard looks patchy and dry in the cold months, this grass, together with Fort Myers lawn fertilization services, will help revamp it.
Common plants in Fort Myers
One of the most common plants in Fort Myers is Buttonbush, a flowery shrub that is known for its white clusters when it blooms. To grow, it requires a mixture of light and shade, so yards with partial shade are ideal for it. It attracts flying insects such as bees. It does not do well in salty soil but thrives in wet areas. If you want to add a pop of color to your yard, you may consider planting some Buttonbush shrubs.
Aptly named, the Beauty Berry is a shrub that brings beauty and vitality to your garden. It has purple flowers that bloom in late spring and produces purple flowers that attract birds late in the winter. Its branches can be used for flower arrangements. The shrub also requires partial shade to thrive.
If your lawn is prone to waterlogging, you should try planting some leather ferns on it. This lush green plant is one of the most attractive shrubs that thrive in wet soil. Without enough water, the foliage discolors into an unpleasant brown color, so you must water it frequently.
Fort Myers lawn care tips
It is vital to dethatch your lawn regularly. Thatch refers to the organic material that accumulates in your yard, especially after you mow. It can obstruct nutrient absorption for your grass, which in turn limits growth and leaves spongy, brown patches on your precious turf. To dethatch, you will need to use a scarifier tool or a rake. This will help ease nutrient absorption for your grass.
Mowing is a fundamental part of lawn maintenance. It is the only way to contain grass growth so that you do not have overgrown grass in your yard. But you need to mow properly to nurture rather than destroy your lawn. For one thing, avoid cutting your grass too short, or else you will leave it to die by depriving it of access to sunshine. Every time you mow, do not chop off more than a third of the grass. Don't mow in cold weather as this will destroy your lawn. Maintain the edges of your yard using an edging tool or shears to make the yard more appealing.
Winters can be brutal to your lawn. The grass may not be able to survive the cold months, which is why you must revamp your yard in early spring. The best way to do this is by overseeding, which reduces brown patches on your lawn during the warmer months.
Professional Fort Myers lawn care services
Lawn care requires consistency. You cannot put off mowing until you have the time, and still expect to have an enviable lawn all year round. This is where Fort Myers lawn care services come in handy. The companies do all the hard work for you so that you can enjoy a beautiful lawn without breaking a sweat.
Many Fort Myers lawn service companies offer more than basic lawn care; some offer Fort Myers yard clean up, Fort Myers weed control, and Fort Myers lawn fertilization services as well. With such companies, you can forget about yard care for a long time.
Lawn care equipment is expensive. It makes little sense to buy a costly lawn mower only to use it a few times a year. Additionally, purchasing a bag of grass fertilizer that you will only use twice a year does not make economic sense. By hiring a Fort Myers lawn care company, you will save yourself these extra costs and use your money in more productive ways.
Fort Myers lawn care does not need to drain the life after you. Sure, it is a dreary and taxing task, but you can hire experts in the field to do it for you. For a small fee, you get to enjoy a meticulously kept lawn with little input on your part. The benefits you get from a professional Fort Myers Lawn services company are certainly worth the money.
Commonly asked questions
When can I apply fertilizer in Fort Myers?
Sec. 14-120. - Timing of fertilizer application; content and application rate; impervious surfaces; buffer zones.
(a)Timing of application. Fertilizers containing nitrogen and/or phosphorus must not be applied to turf and/or landscape plants during the rainy season (June 1 through September 30), except as provided in section 14-122.
(b)Fertilizer content and application rate.
(1)Fertilizer that contains more than two percent phosphorus or other compounds containing phosphorus, such as phosphate, per guaranteed analysis label (as guaranteed analysis and label are defined by F.S. ch. 576, such definition incorporated herein) must not be applied to turf and/or landscape plants within the town.
(2)Fertilizer applied to turf and/or landscape plants within the town must contain no more than 20 percent total nitrogen, with no less than 50 percent total nitrogen content as slow release nitrogen per guaranteed analysis.
(3)Fertilizers should be applied to turf and/or landscape plants at the lowest rate necessary without exceeding the maximum weight per application. Fertilizer must not be applied at a rate greater than one pound of total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application. No more than four pounds of total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet may be applied to any turf/landscape area in any calendar year.
Are there any water restrictions in Fort Myers?
Sec. 30-53. - Permanent water restrictions; declaration of a water shortage; water shortage emergency.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to irrigate lawns within the town between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except:
(1)With low-volume devices;(2)To maintain irrigation systems which are not low volume. Such maintenance shall be limited to ten minutes per zone, once a week; and(3)To apply fertilizers and pesticides.(b)All types of irrigation systems may he used after 5:00 p.m. and until 9:00 a.m., unless water restrictions have been imposed by the district.
What are the plant standards for Trees/Shrubs/hedges?
Sec. 10-420. - Plant material standards.
(c)Trees and palms.
(1)For code-required trees, at least 50 percent of the trees at the time of installation must be a minimum of ten feet in height, two inches in diameter at 12 inches above the ground, and have a four-foot spread. The remaining code-required trees, at the time of installation, must be a minimum of six feet in height, one inch in diameter at 12 inches above the ground, and have a three-foot spread.a.Palms must have a minimum of ten feet of clear trunk at planting.b.Coconut palms must be varieties that are resistant to lethal yellowing.c.Trees having an average mature spread or crown less than 20 feet may be substituted by grouping the same so as to create the equivalent of 20-foot crown spread.d.Trees adjacent to walkways, bike paths, and rights-of-way must be maintained with eight feet of clear trunk.
(2)Larger trees substituted to reduce the minimum number of general trees, without the use of an alternative landscape betterment plan, must be no less than four inches in diameter at 12 inches above the ground and no less than 16 feet in height at the time of planting. The general trees requirement cannot be reduced in number by more than 50 percent.
(d)Shrubs and hedges. Shrubs must be a minimum of 24 inches (48 inches for type F buffers) in height above the on-site adjacent pavement surface required to be buffered and/or screened when measured at time of planting. They must be a minimum three-gallon container size, and be spaced 18 to 36 inches on center. They must be at least 36 inches (60 inches for type F buffers) in height within 12 months of time of planting and be maintained at a height of no less than 36 inches (60 inches for type F buffers) above the adjacent pavement required to be buffered and/or screened in perpetuity, except for visibility at intersections and where pedestrian access is provided. Required hedges must be planted in double staggered rows and maintained so as to form a continuous, unbroken, solid visual screen within one year after time of planting.
(e)Mulch. A two-inch minimum layer, after watering-in, of wood or bark mulch or other recycled vegetation must be placed and maintained around all newly installed trees, shrubs and groundcover plantings. Each tree must have a ring of mulch no less than 24 inches beyond its trunk in all directions. The use of cypress mulch is prohibited.
Are there any irrigation standards for Fort Myers?
Sec. 10-417. - Irrigation standards.
(a)To improve the survivability of required landscaping, cultivated landscaped areas must be provided with an automatic irrigation system, except as provided in subsection.
(c) of this section. All required irrigation systems must be designed to eliminate the application of water to impervious areas, including roads, drives, and other vehicle areas. Required irrigation must also be designed to avoid impacts on indigenous plant communities.
