"Throughout the year, your soil and grass go through a lot. It's being trampled on by you and your family, rolled over by lawn equipment, and otherwise taking a lot of direct stress. By the time fall shows up, the grass and its roots can be compacted, which can affect how it grows going forward. Aeration involves using special equipment to perforate the ground with a series of shallow indentations.
"Aeration does two things; it helps loosen those compacted grassroots and opens up the ground so it is more receptive to things like moisture, fertilizer, and seed. Having the soil in your yard aerated during your fall landscaping is giving it a healthier start for the following spring. Even though Florida tends to have sandy loam soil, which is a collaboration of sand, clay, and silt and doesn't get compacted so easily, aeration can still be necessary."
- Start with moist soil (wait 24 hours after a rainstorm or irrigation).
- Choose a tool or a machine that actually removes "plugs" of soil from the lawn, rather than making a hole in the ground. That causes the surrounding area of the hole to compact roots and grass even more, thus defeating the purpose of aerating your lawn.
- Since most machines and tools only cover a small percentage of soil surface, multiple passes might be necessary.
- Once the plugs have dried, they can be broken up and spread over your lawn for a clean appearance (the plugs can be broken up using your lawn mower or by pounding them with the back of a rake).
If you want your yard to look its best throughout winter, fall is also the time to overseed. This refers to the practice of seeding a temporary cool-season grass - such as ryegrass - over the permanent warm-season lawn that goes dormant during late fall and early winter in many parts of Florida. This provides an attractive green lawn until it dies out in spring and growth of the warm-season grass resumes - with no additional work on your part required. Additional benefits of overseeding include better retention of the soil's moisture, return of nutrients to the grass and weed prevention.
Overseeding - as well as seeding - should be done in conjunction with aeration because it allows the seeds to reach closer to the already existing root system, providing the seed-to-soil contact that allows seeds to germinate and sprout.
And don't forget to fertilize! October is the last recommended month to fertilize prior to winter. Depending on your plants, you might need to fertilize more often than once a year, so make sure to research the care that your plants need. It's also important to follow the manufacturer's directions for use for the best results. Look for a brand that contains a slow release of nitrogen and potassium, and has a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium ratio of 16-4-8.
If you really want to fertilize your lawn like a pro, have your soil tested to determine the kind of nutrients it needs and the balance of the pH level. Having the soil professionally tested yields valuable insight into what nutrients are missing, if the pH balance is appropriate to support growth, and more. These particular factors are critical to know. For example, if the pH level is too high, turfgrass and plants can suffer major deficiencies because vital nutrients in the soil are burned up before the plant can utilize anything. This will help you to select the proper fertilizer that will best support the growth of your turfgrass and plants. Fertilize after aerating your lawn to achieve optimum benefits.
Time to Treat Your Yard for Weeds and Pests
In Central Florida, numerous types of weeds and insect pests can pop up all year long. However, they are easier to get rid of in the fall. Choosing a pre-emergent and/or herbicide and applying it to your soil after aeration is the best way to prevent rapid weed growth.
According to , weeds such as chickweed, henbit, burweed, and wild geranium find it too hot during the rest of the year to grow, but can spread quickly over a dormant winter lawn. Lawn Care Extraordinaire provides an extensive list of common Florida weeds, with photographs to make identification easy.
After applying your pre-emergent, you may have to pull out a couple of stragglers after the initial application, but if rampant weed growth continues, you will need the help of a lawn service professional . The best time to apply an herbicide or pre-emergent is when the weather reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for four consecutive nights, around late September and into October. Our blog post - " Weeding and Feeding Your Florida Lawn " - provides additional advice and recommendations.
When it comes to recognizing if you have an insect infestation, look for brown patches or any discoloration in your yard. Some of the insects to watch out for during the cooler months include:
Time to Plant Annuals and Perennials to Enjoy Now
Chrysanthemums - Often shortened to mums, these easy-to-grow, herbaceous perennials can live for years and continue to bloom. Generally these plants grow to be about 6 inches tall although they can reach 2 feet in height when flowering.
Mums form rounded mounds that, when in bloom, burst with the autumnal colors that our transplanted residents from up north may be missing this time of year! Not only do mums come in an array of colors, they also come in a variety of flower forms. The single flower form looks much like a daisy, while the pompon form has more of a globular shape. There is even a spoon flower form where the flower petals are tubular and flatten out at the tips, resembling many little spoons. Mums are ideal for mass plantings and cut flowers. As a bonus, the flowers attract butterflies.
Firespike - This ornamental adds a big pop of red to the garden. Known botanically as Odontonema cuspidatum , firespike grows 4 to 6 feet tall and produces clusters of 3-inch-long, tubular red flowers. Its foot-long spikes of showy flowers appear fall through winter in Central Florida. They attract hummingbirds and several species of butterflies that feed on the nectar. Because of its overall height and large, glossy foliage, firespike makes a great anchor when massed at the back of a garden bed. It also works well in cutting gardens.
Marigolds - Available in mainly a range of yellows and oranges, these hardy, reliable annuals are often used for color massing, edging, borders, cut flowers and container plantings. French marigolds excel year-round while the large-flowered African types are best for spring. The marigold will grow one to two feet tall, and needs full sun. The brightly colored flowers can be single or double. They make great cut flowers and are most effective in mass plantings; place them at least a foot apart. They'll fill in to create a groundcover in an open bed or beneath a small tree.
Pansies and Violas - Pansies and violas are charming cold-tolerant annuals that you can plant in winter and enjoy through spring. Viola flowers are small-typically less than an inch across-while pansy flowers can be two to three inches wide. Pansies and violas come in a range of colors, including red, white, purple, yellow, and apricot. Some pansy flowers are a single bright color, while others have a dark center. Some also produce a sweet scent at dawn and dusk. They're ideal for borders, containers, and window boxes. Plant in a well-drained, rich soil where they'll receive plenty of sun, and irrigate only as needed.
Snapdragons - This is an easy-to-grow ornamental annual that can be planted in October. Snapdragons range in size from six inches to three feet tall and come in a rainbow of colors, so you can select a variety that fits your landscape. Snapdragons make great borders and they're beautiful when planted in groups. They are a long-lasting cut flower, and can even thrive in containers. They do best in soil amended with organic matter and prefer full sun.
The Take-Home Message
Although it may seem that our Central Florida fall and winter temperatures don't plunge as low as they do up north, our lawns can tell the difference! Performing the necessary care and maintenance now will keep your yard beautiful even when the only people still wearing shorts outdoors are the tourists - and will give it a big advantage when spring comes back around.
