Tampa lawn care
In the Tampa Bay area, we're fortunate enough to have good weather all year-round, which means we can maximize the time we spend outdoors! However terrific weather will make your lawn grow rather quickly.
A soil test can be performed on your lawn to give you the necessary feedback you need to grow healthy grass. Home test kits are available for purchase and can be sent off to your local County Extension Service for testing.
Aeration is an important step to growing the best lawn possible. Aerating your lawn will allow the roots of your grass to soak in much-needed nutrients along with water and sunlight. A Tampa lawn service professional can provide this service when you need it.
When you mow your lawn you need to choose whether to mulch or get rid of the clippings. Many Tampa homeowners choose to leave clippings as a natural mulch, but you may also wish to bag them and haul them away. There are benefits to both. Mulch is used to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, keep the soil cool, and help create an attractive looking lawn. However, grass clippings decompose very rapidly, and in the process, they can become slimy and sometimes have an unpleasant odor. Too much mulching of grass clippings can also mat down and not allow water to pass through.
Living in Tampa means hot days throughout the year. You'll always want to water the grass early in the morning, preferably before the sun rises. If you miss this window, wait until the sun begins to set before watering your lawn. If you mow too late in the day, the cooler temperatures can allow fungus to grow as the remaining water will not evaporate all the way. Also, the earlier you water, the more time your grass has to absorb the moisture, which will then keep the turf cooler throughout the remaining hot parts of the day. The golden rule is to water deeply and less frequently.
Pay attention to bugs! Unfortunately, the city of Tampa deals with a number of pests that can attack your lawn and kill your grass. Chinch bugs, mole crickets, armyworms, and other bugs can do damage to your lawn, so keep an eye out for them and know what to do if they invade your space.
Tampa grass types
If you live in the Tampa area, then your grass is probably St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Bahia. Knowing what type of grass is growing in your yard will provide you with the ability of how to best care for it and make it healthy and happy.
Most grasses native to Tampa are warm-season grasses that go dormant in the winter. According to the experts, planting grass between the months of April and July will help your lawn look its best. Whether you are a pro or a beginner when it comes to lawn care, read on for the best grass types to try.
Zoysia, a warm-season grass, is always a popular choice for lawns in Tampa. Once Zoysia has become established it creates a hardy, colorful lawn. Zoysia will grow best in full sun but will also tolerate light shade and colder temperatures in the winter. It's a great choice for busy homeowners who may not have time for lawn care as it has low water requirements. If your goal is to enjoy your lawn with family and friends, Zoysia will also hold up well under heavy foot traffic.
St. Augustine is another grass that will do very well in the hotter Tampa climate. It produces a thick sod of deep green blades, crowding out other grasses and any weeds that try to push through. However, it's not a great grass for lawns that see a lot of foot traffic. It also needs regular watering and may need additional irrigation if the city sees drought conditions.
Dwarf St. Augustine grass is another type of grass that can thrive in Tampa. However, this grass type should be mowed to two and a half inches instead of the standard three and a half to four inch mowing height of standard St. Augustine. It will also have a finer texture than regular St. Augustine grass.
Bahia grass is a warm-season grass that does well in full sun and is perfect for gulf coast lawns. It can withstand drought and has a high tolerance for heat. Bahia grass grows into a low-maintenance turf that requires less water and nutrients than its counterparts. Its deep root system allows it to withstand drought conditions, a common concern in Tampa.
Hiring a professional Tampa lawn care service
Homeowners are often found wondering whether they should hire a Tampa lawn care service professional to help take care of their lawn, and the answer is likely "yes." This is due to the fact that many homeowners don't have the time, knowledge, or passion to properly care for their lawns and gardens. They may be busy with work, family, errands, school, or anything else to keep them from giving their lawn the proper attention it needs.
When you want your grass to grow as green as possible and your flowers to bloom bright, the experts can help. From Tampa gutter cleaning to aeration to mowing, a professional company will help get the job done right.
When you want your property to look like the pros took care of it, a Tampa gardening and lawn care service can help. Lawn Love will help with it all when it comes to your lawn- even your Tampa gutter cleaning needs! Call us today and let's create the lawn of your dreams together.
Commonly asked questions
Are there any water restrictions for Tampa?
The Tampa Water Department publishes updates and changes to local water restrictions in these ways: media releases, Alert Tampa notification, NextDoor, and utility customer billing inserts. Water use restrictions are in place year-round and affect all water sources, including wells. Violating water use restrictions in Tampa may result in penalties ranging from $100 to $450 and a mandatory court appearance. Restrictions are subject to change in response to local and regional water supply conditions.
What are tree regulations requirements in Tampa?
Sec. 27-284.3. - Tree preservation, planting, landscaped area requirements.
In accordance with the Tampa Comprehensive Plan and the City's Urban Forest Management Plan, the following regulations are adopted to preserve and protect existing, healthy grand and protected trees in the city; and, where specific trees are determined to be "hazardous" in accordance with this subdivision, these regulations allow for the removal of such trees. Whether a grand or protected tree is approved for removal or removed, it is also the intent of these regulations to require mitigation for properly permitted removed trees and applicable penalties, fines, and mitigation for unauthorized removal, in order to preserve Tampa's urban forest canopy, thereby protecting the environment and enhancing the natural beauty of the city.
Can I be charged if my weeds are out of control?
Sec. 22.03. - [Same—Compliance required.]
All owners, agents, custodians, lessees or occupants of real property within the city limits of the City of Tampa shall, in accordance with the notice set forth in Section 2 [22.02] hereof, cut or cause to be cut and keep cut or cause to be kept cut to a height of not exceeding 1 foot all weeds, grass or underbrush within two hundred feet of any building, structure, recreational area or street right-of-way, on any real property owned, controlled or occupied by them within the City of Tampa, and to remove or cause the same to be removed from said property.
Is there a height limit for fences?
Sec. 27-290.1. - Fence and wall regulations.(e)Front yards.(1)Within the single-family residential zoning districts, and YC-2 and YC-4 subdistricts, fences and walls may be located within required front yards provided that the height does not exceed three (3) feet for fences built of opaque materials, or four (4) feet for fences built of transparent materials which do not obstruct light, air and visibility.(2)For all residential uses in any zoning district, fences and walls may be located within required front yards provided that the height does not exceed three (3) feet for fences or walls made of opaque materials, or four (4) feet for fences built of transparent materials, which do not obstruct, light, air and visibility.
