- 1. Clean Up Your Yard (Early March)<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Test the Soil (Early March)<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Control Weeds in Spring (March-May)<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Treat for Lawn Pests (March-May)<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Prevent Lawn Diseases (March-May)<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Gradually Increase Watering (March)<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Start Mowing Regularly (Mid-March)<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Remove Thick Thatch (April-May)<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Aerate Compacted Soil (April-May)<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Start Fertilizing (Late March-Early May)<\/a><\/li>
- 11. Overseed and Repair (April-May)<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Clean Up Your Yard (Early March)<\/h2>
Planning for a healthy Orlando lawn? Start with a spring yard cleanup. In early March, as the weather warms up, remove debris to improve airflow and sun exposure: <\/p>
- Haul out any fallen branches, twigs, and palm fronds <\/li>
- Gently rake fallen leaves<\/a><\/li>
- Clean gutters and drainage ditches<\/li> <\/ul>
2. Test the Soil (Early March)<\/h2>
Central Florida soils come with unique challenges that make periodic soil testing essential<\/a>:<\/p>
- Soils are typically rich in phosphorus, but some lawns can be deficient<\/strong>. You won\u2019t know until you test the soil.<\/li>
- Low <\/strong>potassium<\/a> and micronutrients<\/strong>. The typical Orlando lawn has sandy soil, is low in organic matter (only about 1%), and doesn\u2019t hold water and nutrients well. <\/li>
- The average soil pH is 6.0 – 7.5, but it varies widely<\/strong>, so you can have a soil that\u2019s too acidic or too alkaline, which prevents your grass from absorbing nutrients.<\/li> <\/ul>
Collect a soil sample in early March and send it to the University of Florida’s Soil Testing Laboratory in Gainesville to get the results by the time you start fertilizing the lawn. Or take it to your local Extension Office, and they will send it to the lab for you.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— How Soil pH Affects Lawn Health<\/a>
— How to Change Your Soil pH<\/a><\/p>3. Control Weeds in Spring (March-May)<\/h2>
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Crabgrass. Photo Credit: Cornell IPM Program at Cornell University<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In Central Florida\u2019s warm climate, weeds germinate earlier and linger longer into the fall. Your best chance for effective chemical control is well-timed herbicides in the spring.<\/p>
- Apply pre-emergent herbicides <\/a>in late January to mid-February, as part of your Orlando winter lawn care. <\/li>
- Plan a second application 4-6 weeks later to eliminate late-germinating weeds. <\/li>
- Use post-emergent herbicides<\/a> to control surviving weeds while they are young.<\/li> <\/ul>
Here\u2019s a herbicide application schedule to guide you, including the best time to target the most common Orlando lawn weeds: <\/p>
- Low <\/strong>potassium<\/a> and micronutrients<\/strong>. The typical Orlando lawn has sandy soil, is low in organic matter (only about 1%), and doesn\u2019t hold water and nutrients well. <\/li>
- Clean gutters and drainage ditches<\/li> <\/ul>
- 2. Test the Soil (Early March)<\/a><\/li>
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