- 1. Know Your Tampa Bay Grass<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Seed Turfgrass from March to July<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Leave Grass Clippings on Your Tampa Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Keep a Weed Control Schedule<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Mow Like a Pro (or Hire One to Do It)<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Align with the Tampa Bay Water Restrictions<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Collect Water in Rain Barrels<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Keep the Lawn Healthy to Prevent Pests<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Watch for the Mosaic Virus in Floratam Lawns<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Hurricane-Proof Your Tampa Bay Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ <\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Know Your Tampa Bay Grass<\/h2>
![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_800px-stenotaphrum_secundatum_variegatum-1-the_regent_hill-yercaud-salem-india.jpg\")
St. Augustine Grass
Photo Credit: Yercaud-elango<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>St. Augustine, Bahia, Bermuda, and Zoysia grass are the most popular grasses in the Tampa Bay area<\/a>. Here\u2019s what you need to know about them to choose the right type and maintain it correctly:<\/p>
- St. Augustinegrass<\/strong> is easy to establish and the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass (you can plant it under bushes or trees). It also has low resistance to heavy traffic and is a high-maintenance choice. <\/li>
- Zoysiagrass<\/strong> needs less mowing and fewer fertilizers but is more expensive to establish. It grows thick and dense, with a manicured look, is less prone to weeds, and has good traffic resistance. <\/li>
- Bermudagrass<\/strong> has high traffic resistance, suitable for family lawns with kids and pets playing outdoors. It is a fast grower that easily overcomes weeds, must be mowed often, and can become invasive. <\/li>
- Bahiagrass <\/strong>is low-maintenance, with good resistance to insects, diseases, and drought. It\u2019s inexpensive to install but doesn\u2019t grow as dense and uniform as other grasses, having a more natural look.<\/li> <\/ul>
2. Seed Turfgrass from March to July<\/h2>
The warm winter in Tampa Bay makes it possible to seed and install sod, sprigs, or plugs on your lawn almost all year round. But, according to the University of Florida, the best time to plant grass is from March to July.<\/strong> <\/p>
You can easily plan it as part of your spring lawn care schedule<\/a> so the new grass benefits from the spring lawn clean-up and fertilization. This way, the grass will develop a robust root system and good resistance to drought and cold by winter.<\/p>
3. Leave Grass Clippings on Your Tampa Lawn<\/h2>
![\"Grass](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/grass-cuttings.jpg\")
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Grass clippings are excellent, eco-friendly, free-of-charge nitrogen sources for your lawn.<\/p>
Nitrogen is essential for green grass. But it is also the primary pollutant contaminating Tampa Bay area waters. Hillsborough County has banned using nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers in the rainy season, from July to September, to keep pollution under control. <\/p>
A smart way to keep your grass well-fed during this time is by fertilizing your Tampa lawn<\/a> with what nature offers – grass clippings. They release the nitrogen slowly, preventing leaching, and also offer necessary micronutrients that synthetic fertilizers lack. <\/p>
4. Keep a Weed Control Schedule<\/h2>
Tampa Bay lawns deal with stubborn summer and winter annual weeds. The best way to keep them under control is to spread pre-emergent herbicides on time before their seeds germinate, which is:<\/p>
- February and early March for annual summer weeds.<\/strong> Spot-spray young weeds from March to April with a post-emergent herbicide. <\/li>
- October for annual winter weeds<\/strong>. November to early February, spot-treat young weeds with a post-emergent herbicide. <\/li> <\/ul>
To ensure season-long weed control, make a second application 6 to 9 weeks after the first. <\/p>
Warning! <\/strong>Apply pre-emergent herbicides only if you previously had problems with annual weeds and only on a lawn that has been established for over a year. Chemicals can harm new growth. <\/p>
5. Mow Like a Pro (or Hire One to Do It)<\/h2>
![\"lawn](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Lawn-Mowing.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Prasannanossam3<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> Keeping the proper mowing height is essential for a healthy lawn. When cutting grass blades too short, the turfgrass is more vulnerable to stress factors like:<\/p>
- Low or high temperatures<\/li>
- Pests<\/li>
- Fungal diseases<\/li> <\/ul>
Leaving it too tall exposes the grass to excessive moisture and fungi. Here are the recommended mowing heights for the most popular Tampa Bay grasses:<\/p>
- October for annual winter weeds<\/strong>. November to early February, spot-treat young weeds with a post-emergent herbicide. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Zoysiagrass<\/strong> needs less mowing and fewer fertilizers but is more expensive to establish. It grows thick and dense, with a manicured look, is less prone to weeds, and has good traffic resistance. <\/li>
- 2. Seed Turfgrass from March to July<\/a><\/li>
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rain-Barrel.jpg\")
![\"Drainage](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/French-drain.jpg\")