9 Eco-Friendly Tips for Healthy Florida Lawns

Creating and maintaining a beautiful lawn might be a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort. Having a healthy lawn doesn’t just mean having green grass, it also means caring for your yard so it can prevent disease, weeds, and insects from coming in and destroying all the hard work you’ve invested. Luckily, there are a lot of green options available for sustainable lawn care. We care about the health and prosperity of Tampa lawn care, so we put together a list of ways you can be eco-friendly while also having a gorgeous yard.

Advice From The Pros:

Mow correctly. A good rule of thumb for mowing is to keep your lawn around 2.5 to 3 inches tall (depending on your grass type). If you cut off more than one-third of the blades when you mow, surface roots get exposed, which can damage the health of your grass.

White clover. While white clover is considered a weed, this is an incorrect assumption. White clover can add greenness to your lawn so that dry spells don’t kill your grass, and it also creates a natural fertilizer for your grass by producing nitrogen. A great side effect is that it also smells nice!

Compost. Build a compost bin in your backyard and add grass clippings, leaves, and even kitchen and yard waste - like old plants - to it. Compost will help your lawn stay healthy, and you’ll be able to use it for a variety of reasons, including planting new grass or starting a garden.

Healthy soil. The best way to improve the health of your soil is by applying compost. In the spring, spread about half an inch on the top of your lawn and rake it into the ground.

Water properly. Most yards want about an inch of water a week. The ideal time to water your lawn is in the morning; this way you won’t lose a lot of water to evaporation, and watering at night can lead to the growth of fungi. Deep watering creates deep roots, which again, helps fight off drought and keeps your lawn healthy. It’s better to water your lawn a lot at once rather than a little bit here and there.

Use the proper type of grass. Different grasses prefer different climates. If you need to replace a lot of your grass or fix a bald spot, make sure you’re using grass that likes our Florida weather. St. Augustine grass is one of the best to use in our climate.

Aeration. Over time, your soil becomes compacted due to warm temperatures and foot traffic. The process of aeration puts thousands of small holes in your soil so air, water, and nutrients can get to the roots of your grass. Strong roots help your grass become healthier and fight off drought. Early summer is the best time to aerate!

Thatch buildup. On a healthy lawn, the layer of thatch should be about half an inch thick. Thatch is a layer of grass roots, clippings, stems, and debris that collect on the ground and slowly decompose. If you have too much thatch, water and nutrients will have a hard time reaching your lawn’s roots. Aeration is the perfect way to control the buildup of thatch.

Go Green With Your Green Team

Healthy lawns aren’t just beautiful to look at; they also contribute to the health of our environment. Here at Your Green Team, we take pride in knowing that whenever we create a healthy lawn, we are also helping to produce oxygen, cool air temperatures, prevent erosion, trap dust and dirt from escaping into the air, and filter rainwater pollutants. When you trust us with your Tampa lawn care needs, you’re giving yourself more time to enjoy your nights and weekends rather than working in your yard. We love providing our customers with gorgeous, healthy lawns year-round, so if you have any questions, or just don’t have time to maintain your lawn, we are more than happy to help!