Well, here we are bringing in another Spring season, and it is time to wake up those sleeping lawns. But first, before you rush out to your local garden center or nursery, let’s talk about a few things you need to know.

If you’re new to Florida and the Lake Nona area, welcome! If you are from one of the Northern states and enjoy gardening, you’re in for a real treat. Orlando has a subtropical climate, zoned 9b. That means you can garden throughout the entire year!

Let’s begin by talking about lawns and their care. Here in Orlando, we have several grass varieties – St. Augustine, Bahia, Bermuda and Zoysia. There are a few more varieties, but these four are the most popular and most of you will have one of these grasses. You will need to know which you have before you go out to buy any products. Each of these grasses comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

This is the time to check for weeds, insect damage and irrigation problems. If your weed problem is small, I prefer spot treatment using a pump-up sprayer. Applying a weed-and-feed product on the entire lawn can cause undue stress to your lawn, especially if the temperature is hot. Otherwise apply just fertilizer.

Spring is an excellent time to apply fertilizer. When choosing a fertilizer, decide which one will work best for your grass type. You also need to know the size of your lawn. Most fertilizers and pesticides come in either 5000- and 10,000-square foot bags, but you can buy the size you need. Always follow label directions on the bag before you apply any products. Notice that the bags list their formulation with the letters NPK. Those initials stand for Nitrogen (for strong growth), Phosphorus (for healthy roots) and Potassium (for all around general health). Some of the more expensive fertilizers come in time-release formulas that will feed your lawn over a long period of time. Last, you will need a drop or broadcast spreader to apply your fertilizer. There is one for almost every size yard and budget, and they can either be pushed manually or pulled behind a lawn tractor.

Next up, you need to check (calibrate) your irrigation system. Check each irrigation zone one at a time and make sure that the sprinkler heads are rotating properly and that you are getting a full coverage of water on your lawn. Also, check if an irrigation head might be stuck with grass growing over the top. If you see dry areas, it’s a good idea to place some small empty cans on the lawn and run your system. When it’s done, you should have collected about ¾ of inch of water in each can. If not, adjust accordingly so you are getting the most out of each watering session. This process is called “auditing” in case someone asks you why you may be running your irrigation system on an off day. In Orlando, we have water restrictions for how much water you can use on your landscape. You are allowed to water twice a week from Daylight Saving Time through the 4th Sunday in November. Homes with addresses that end in odd numbers get to water on Wednesdays and Saturdays while homes with even numbers water on Thursdays and Sundays. You should only water when needed and only before 10 AM or after 4 PM.

One other very important matter is mowing. Depending on your grass type, adjust your mower blade height and make sure your blades are sharp for optimum cut. Cutting too low or having dull blades will rip at the grass, weakening the lawn and making it more susceptible to insects and disease.

If at any time you have questions regarding your garden or lawn, there is a wonderful resource available in our area called the Orange County/UF-IFAS Extension Office. It is located at 6021 S. Conway Rd. You can take a sample of your plant material and have Master Gardeners identify, diagnose and prescribe a treatment for any problems that you may have. They can also test the PH of your soil, and it’s absolutely free! While there, you may want to take a stroll through the Exploration Garden, which is located right behind the clinic. There you will see a large variety of plants and trees that have been tested at this learning institute for their viability to grow in our area. They have a large assortment of vegetables, herbs and flowers growing all year round. Walk along the butterfly or cactus garden and don’t forget your camera. They even have aquaponics and hydroponic gardens, if those interest you. All landscape plants are labeled with their species, so take your camera or a pen and paper with you so you can make note of the name of any plant you may like – maybe you’ll be lucky and be able to find one at your local nursery or at Home Depot’s garden center!

I hope with these basic lawn maintenance tips, your lawn will grow green and thrive this spring and throughout the season!