Lawn Care for the South
Where you live often determines what your lawn looks like, what types of grass you grow and the care your lawn needs. If you live in a Southern state, you likely experience warm weather and more sunshine along with more moisture throughout the year. Caring for southern lawns requires some extra attention and care.
Common Types of Grass in the South
The first step to having a lush green lawn is understanding what type of grass you’re growing, as each type requires different care. The most common types of grass in the south include:
- Bermudagrass: Resistant to drought and fast to bounce back, bermudagrass has a medium texture and can be kept quite short. Deep watering once a week, annual aeration, fertilization, proper soil pH and weed control will keep your lawn looking its best.
- Bahiagrass: This grass is also resistant to drought and it grows fast, which means you may need to mow more often. Mow every week or two to keep the grass no higher than four inches and apply lawn food two to four times yearly. Choose a lawn food with iron and keep an eye on soil pH to keep Bahiagrass looking its best.
- Centipede grass: Aggressive against weeds and low growing, centipede grass doesn’t require mowing as often. However, you do need to make sure your soil is well aerated, low in phosphorus, with a low pH and higher potassium for this grass to thrive.
- Zoysia grass: With deep roots, this grass stands up well to pests, foot traffic and disease. Mow your grass often and be careful to keep the soil pH from 5.8-7.0.
Wondering when to lime lawns in the south? Spring and fall are ideal times for this climate. Test your soil to see when its pH needs a little help and apply lime according to proper instructions.
Caring for Southern Lawns in Fall
Stop feeding your lawn six to eight weeks before the first frost is expected and take care of any pests so your grass can enter dormancy. Remove dead leaves and stop mowing once your grass stops growing. If you need to apply lime, the fall is another ideal time. Test your lawn and apply lime as needed.
Southern Lawn Care During Winter
One advantage for southern lawns is that they usually don’t have to compete with heavy ice and snow. However, many warm-season grasses brown in the winter. If you want green all year long, one solution is to wait for your warm-weather grass to go dormant, then overseed using cold-weather grass, like bluegrass or ryegrass.
Southern Lawn Care in Spring
If you overseeded in the winter, stop fertilizing and mow low to give the permanent grass a chance to flourish. Remove any debris to improve air circulation and tackle early signs of pests. If you need lime, spring is the best time to apply it.
Summer Lawn Care in the South
In the early summer, aerate your lawn to introduce oxygen and allow your grass to grow well. In peak summer, make sure to water and mow frequently so your lawn looks its best. Late summer or even early fall is the ideal time for seeding to add lush green.
Get Lime for Your Lawn
Are you hoping for a lush, emerald lawn this year? Even if you’re competing with strong southern sun, Baker Lime can help. If you have questions about taking care of your lawn or using the power of lime to balance the pH of your soil, contact Baker Lime today for expert help.
