Cape Coral lawn care services
Fort Myers covers approximately 40.4 square miles from which 31.8 square miles is land, and 8.6 square miles is water. There is mostly long, hot, and cloudy weather in the summers, while the winter is very short. The temperature in Fort Myers is considerably warm throughout the year. In this kind of climate structure, which type of grass should you plant on your lawn? First, consider the type of soil on your lawn, your readiness and availability to monitor the lawn, and the location of your yard. Below are the best grass you can plant on your lawn in Fort Myers, Florida:
Centipede grass
It has a yellow-green blade. This grass is the most popular in Fort Myers because of its high heat tolerance. It requires a little water, over flooding will increase the likelihood of it being invaded by weeds. It is a low maintenance grass. However, it has a low tolerance for traffic, and it recovers poorly from wear. It also can't handle high quantities of salt, and it is prone to diseases.
Bermuda grass
It has a deep green color. It has outstanding drought resistance because of its deep roots. It prefers direct sunlight, and it is straightforward to establish. Bermuda grass proliferates, which means you have to give it extra monitoring not to invade other grasses. It can grow well in any soil, and it handles heavy foot traffic well.
Zoysia grass
This is a flexible grass that grows in any soil in Florida. It has brown leaves and has different textures. It recovers well from wear and is salt tolerant. Zoysia is a low maintenance grass, which means it doesn't require extra irrigation or watering. It is shade tolerant, and it can handle traffic effortlessly. It is also diseased tolerant and maintains its healthy appearance in the drought. However, it is very aggressive and invasive.
Bahiagrass
If your yard has limited water access and the type of soil is sandy, then bahiagrass is the best you can choose. This grass does not require much water, but it requires extra supervision as you will need to mow it frequently and look out for weeds. Apart from the fact that it can grow well in sandy soil, it can also thrive in any soil. Bahiagrass is a disease and pest-resistant, and it is not invasive. Also, it is drought tolerant, and it handles heavy foot traffic remarkably.
St. Augustine grass
It has a blue-green color, and it is one of the popular grasses in Fort Myers because it grows so fast to form a yacht. It retains its healthy appearance in the drought, and it recovers well from injury and wears; it is very durable. This grass requires a high maintenance routine; you have to water it frequently so that vital nutrients can get to its root. Also, the fact that it grows fast makes it require proper supervision to invade other grass on your lawn.
Buffalo grass
It has a blue-green color. It can grow on any soil, and it is high heat tolerant. However, it does not handle traffic well, and it is prone to disease.
Now you have chosen suitable grass, and your lawn is ready. To maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn year-round, it is imperative to look out for possible diseases that can be harmful to your lawn. Some examples are as follows:
Brown patch fungus
This disease is caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. The fungus enters the grass through rough edges caused by a dull blade cutting. The symptoms of this disease vary with the type of grass and condition of the soil. However, it appears as irregular circular patches on the lawn. This disease is widespread in Bermuda grass and tall fescue.
Preventive measure: Avoid overwatering the grass and water early in the morning so that it can dry off during the day.
Gray leaf spot fungus
It is caused by a fungus called pyricularia grisea. Moist soil and too much water enhance the growth of this fungus. It mostly affects St. Augustine grass. It shows spots, then oval, and eventually elongates across the entire leaf blade; the spots are tan to gray with irregular brown margins.
Preventive measure: Apply adequate nitrogen but not too much. Also, monitor the soil moisture level and avoid flooding.
Dollar spot
It is caused by a fungus caller sclerotinia homecarpha, which occurs naturally. Also, it can be caused by low fertility and low grass-cutting height. Bermuda grass and Zoysia are the most common target for this disease. It appears as a round brown color with a silver dollar size, which gives it the popular name "dollar spot."
Preventive measure: Apply a high nitrogen fertilizer or a low toxicity fungicide if your lawn is exceptionally affected. Also, reduce thatch build-up and mow your lawn frequently with a sharp blade to ensure a neat cut.
Take-all root rot
It is caused by a fungus called gaeumannomyces graminis, which infects and rots the roots. Also, it becomes very active during the hot weather when drought stresses the grass. This disease changes your lawn color to yellow-green. It also changes the root of your lawn grass to dark brown. Preventive measure: Mow your lawn frequently with the correct height. Apply balanced nitrogen with equal amounts of potassium.
Many of these lawn diseases are not easy to eliminate, and some will leave for a particular time and invade your lawn again. Sometimes you are applying the wrong preventive measure to the wrong disease or at the wrong time. That is why you need the service of an expert. Book an appointment with us today at lawn love Fort Myers lawn care, and we will help you set up an effective pest control routine. Furthermore, we will help you maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn free from pest and lawn diseases.
