Landscape Design Blog - Environmental Associates

FREE Sarasota Area Lawncare Promotion! (Read on for Details)

Tweet

  

 

4 Tips to Sarasota Landscape Design (2 of 2)

Tweet

  

 

This is the last part of a two part blog post covering how to mow your grass in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida.

In our previous blog post we talked about the importance of the height your lawn mower is set at, and how short you should cut your grass. Additionally we elaborated on the frequency that you should cut your Sarasota/Bradenton lawn.

Let’s just jump right in to the next two final points.

3. Clipping Removal

A lot of people obsess about using a bag on their lawn mover, capturing all the clippings, and creating some kind of compost. While there are good reasons to have compost, since it serves as valuable food for your plants, most lawns grass clippings should be returned to the lawn to help recycle nutrients to the soil. If your lawn is mowed frequently enough, clippings will cause few problems, and the upside is much better than the downside. The biggest advantage for you is that you do not have to continually keep emptying your lawn mower basket throughout the process of cutting your lawn. After all, mowing your grass should have some element of pleasure and relaxation associated with it!

Many people believe that clippings contribute to thatch, but research has shown that clippings are readily decomposed by microbial action. Thatch is the intermingled layer of already dead and decomposing organic matter on top of the soil and below the leaf blades. Excessive thatch can cause many problems for lawns, including poor water infiltration, increased insect and disease infestation, and poor turf quality.

The main reason lawns suffer from hatch is when people do not mow their Sarasota & Bradenton lawn often enough, at which point excess clippings form in piles/clumps around your yard. If this situation occurs you can rake the clumps to distribute the grass more evenly across your lawn.

4. Mowing Equipment

Lawn mowers are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles and with many different features. The two basic types are the reel mower and the rotary mower. Variations of these include mulching, flail, and string mowers.

Most mowers can be obtained as push or self-propelled models. Front, side, and rear-clipping discharge models are also available. The choice of mower often depends on personal preference. Points to consider when purchasing a mower are lawn size, the type of grass you have in your Sarasota or Bradenton, FL yard, and level of lawn maintenance.

For people living in Florida rotary mowers are the most common for home lawn maintenance because of their low cost, easy maneuverability, and simple ongoing maintenance. Rotary mowers are most commonly found in all sorts of small and large hardware stores, from your regular push mowers, to full ride-on mowers generally used for larger yards.

With rotary mowers the grass blade is cut on impact with the mower blade, and it should be noted that rotary mowers can pose a safety problem if not used properly. Most rotary mowers cannot mow lower than 1 inch in height and are best used for higher mowing heights (which we discussed earlier as being a positive thing for your lawn). The blades on a rotary mower need to be sharpened and balanced frequently for the best possible cut, and once a year should be sufficient enough depending on how hard you have worked your mower year round.

Mulching mowers are modifications of rotary mowers. These are designed to cut leaf blades into very small pieces that decompose more quickly than leaf blades cut by conventional mowers. The mower blades are designed to create a mild vacuum in the mower deck until the leaf blades are cut into small pieces and distributed across your lawn as you mow. Mulching mowers do not have the traditional discharge chute like most rotary mowers, so you can not capture your clippings in order to make compost.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of mulching mowers:

Advantages:

• Clippings are returned to the turf where they will be decomposed very rapidly. This reduces yard waste and recycles nutrients to your lawn.
• Mulching prevents yard waste from contributing to landfill overuse and eliminates clipping collection and disposal costs.

Disadvantages:

• They do not work well at all on wet or tall grass.
• Blades must be kept sharp.
• Current models are small and require higher horsepower.

Reel mowers are for highly maintained turf where appearance is important. Reel mowers cut with a scissor like action to produce a very clean, even cut. They are used at cutting heights of 2 inches or less, and are not recommended for use on St. Augustine grass.

Good Mowing Practices

Follow these procedures and precautions for safe, good mowing:

• Pick up all stones, sticks and other debris before mowing to avoid damaging the mower or injuring yourself or someone nearby with flying objects.
• Never mow wet grass with a rotary mower because clippings can clog the machine. Whatever lawn mower you are using, mow only when your grass is dry.
• Sharpen the mower blades frequently enough to prevent a ragged appearance to your lawn
• Mow in a different direction every time the lawn is cut. This helps prevent wear patterns, reduces the grain (grass lying over in the same direction), and reduces the possibility of scalping
• Do not remove clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute these by removing or by lightly raking. A leaf blower can also be used to distribute clippings.
• Check your mower every time it is used. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for service and adjustments.
• Adjust cutting height by setting the mower on a driveway or sidewalk and using a ruler to measure the distance between the ground and the blade.
• Never fill a hot mower with gasoline.
• Always wear heavy leather shoes, long pants, and sun/safety glasses when mowing your lawn.
• Always wash your mower after each use to reduce rusting and weed seed movement.

Here are some suggested mowing heights, frequency you should cut your grass, and the recommended type of lawn mower you should use when maintaining your Sarasota and Bradenton landscape.

Type: Bahia Grass
Suggested mowing height: 3” – 4”
How frequently you should mow: 7 – 17 days
Recommended lawn mower: Rotary/Flail

Type: St. Augustine Grass
Suggested mowing height: 2.5” – 4.0”*
How frequently you should mow: 5 – 14 days
Recommended lawn mower: Rotary

Type: Zoysia Grass
Suggested mowing height: 1” – 3”
How frequently you should mow: 10 – 14 days
Recommended lawn mower: Reel

* Dwarf varieties of St. Augustine Grass (Seville, Captiva, and Delmar) are the only cultivars of this species that should be mowed at less than 5″.

Feel free to leave a comment or suggestion below - we love hearing from our landscape design fans and value your feedback!

4 Tips to Sarasota Landscape Design (1 of 2)

Tweet

  

 

This is part one of a two part blog post covering how to mow your grass in Sarasota and Manatee, Florida.

We love providing you the best tips and tricks on Sarasota and Manatee Landscape Design.

There are four key points to consider, 1 and 2 will be covered in this post below, and 3 and 4 will be in the next post.

A lot of people already know that mowing your grass is one of the most important aspects of maintaining a healthy and good quality lawn. Mowing increases turf grass density, producing a tighter lawn that is resistant to weeds. Proper mowing practices, along with fertilization and irrigation, can largely determine the success or failure of a lawn. Too much or too little of either of these factors can lead to a lot of frustration, and a lawn that looks a lot less than perfect!

The two main components of mowing are:

• The cutting height your lawn mower is set to.
• The frequency that you cut your lawn.

The big question is how long should you wait before cutting the grass again, and at what height should your lawn mower cutting blades be set?

Both of these factors depend on the turf grass species, cultivar, and the level of lawn quality you desire. Several other practices involving the use of different types of mowers are also important in creating a quality looking lawn.

1. Height of Mowing

The optimum cutting height is determined by the growth habit and leaf width of the turf grass species. A grass that spreads horizontally can usually be mowed shorter than an upright-growing, bunch-type grass. In other words, depending on the type of sod you have laid, or are planning to lay in your Sarasota or Manatee yard will depend on how you approach your mowing.

Grasses with narrow blades can generally be mowed closer than grasses with wide blades. Bermuda grass is mowed at very low heights because of its numerous narrow leaf blades and low growth habit. On the other hand, Bahia grass needs to be mowed at higher heights because of its open, upright growth habit.

Turf grass undergoes physiological stress with each mowing event, particularly if too much leaf tissue is removed. Effects of “scalping,” or removal of too much shoot tissue at one time, can produce long-term damage to the turf. This can leave turf susceptible to other stresses such as insects, disease, drought, and sunscald.

Mowing also greatly influences the rooting depth of your grass, the higher the mowing height, the deeper the root system of your turf. The advantages of having a deeper root system is that your lawn will have greater tolerance to drought, insects, disease, nematodes, temperature stress, poor soil conditions, nutrient deficiencies, and traffic.

Some people are under the misconception that cutting their grass really short is good for their yard, when in fact mowing below the recommended heights for each species of grass is a primary cause of turf death and should be avoided at all times.

The rule of thumb suggested by the Cornell Extension is to, “Mow when your grass is dry and 3 to 3-1/2 inches tall. Never cut it shorter than 2 to 2-1/2 inches or remove more than one third of the leaf surface at any one mowing.”

2. Frequency of Mowing

The growth rate of your Sarasota or Manatee lawn determines how frequently you will need to mow it. The growth rate is influenced by grass species, weather conditions, time of year, and level of management.

• Slowest growth rates occur in the winter or under low fertility and irrigation.
• Fastest growth rates occur in the summer or under high fertility and watering practices.

Low-maintenance grasses like Bahia grass and centipede grass are frequently mowed just to remove seed heads, rather than to cut leaf blades. Mow frequently enough so that no more than 1/3 of the blade height is removed per mowing. For example, if your St. Augustine grass lawn is mowed at a height of 4 inches, it should be mowed when it grows to a height of 6 inches. Stress to the grass caused by mowing can be minimized by removing only 1/3 of the leaf blade at each mowing. It is important to always leave as much leaf surface as possible so that photosynthesis can occur.

In summary, grass creates a soft, clean and safe playing surface for children and pets. It reduces heat, glare, noise and odors. But most importantly, it cleans the air and helps recharge our South West Florida groundwater supplies.

9 Landscape Design Principles for Sarasota and Manatee Friendly Yards

Tweet

  

 

In part 3, the final post of this 3 part blog we are going to delve in to, and elaborate on the 9 principles of landscaping a Florida Friendly Yard.

Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida are popular places to live because of their appealing climate, unique beauty, and great quality of life. However, gardening here can be tough! Florida soils are typically sandy, summers are hot, and insects are abundant. As a gardener, you know how hard it can be to keep your plants alive, your lawn green, and your flowers blooming.

These 9 principles will give you some ideas on how to make your Sarasota/Manatee yard Florida-Friendly. Plant-It Landscape conforms to these principles, and every day we do our part to create a more sustainable Florida!

7. Recycle

It’s easier than you think to recycle yard waste. Landscape maintenance activities such as mowing, pruning, and raking generate yard waste that you can compost or mulch, recycling valuable nutrients.

Here are some helpful tips for you:

• Leave clippings on the lawn so they will decompose and return nutrients to the turf. Using a mulching mower blade to cut grass into smaller pieces will speed up the decomposition rate. You can also use clippings as mulch or compost.
• Rake up leaves and pine needles and use them as mulch under trees and shrubs or add them to a compost pile. Leaves add nutrients to soil as they decompose.
• Create a compost pile in your yard. Compost is both an easy way to reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill and a cheap way to get nutrients for your garden.

8. Reduce Storm Water Runoff

Filtering rain through your landscape protects waterways and replenishes the aquifer which is so critical when we go through periods of drought in Sarasota and Bradenton.

A rainstorm can wash exposed soil, landscape debris, oil, fertilizers, and pesticides off your landscape, which then becomes part of storm water runoff. In some form or another, every yard and neighborhood is connected to water resources. This connection may be immediate and obvious, like in a waterfront community, or gradual and unnoticed, through the flow of storm drains, ditches, streams, creeks, rivers, and groundwater.

To reduce the amount of Storm Water runoff in your Sarasota and Bradenton yard, follow these simple tips:

• Make sure grass clippings, soil, and fertilizer is swept off pathways and driveways onto your lawn, so they do not get washed in to storm drains.
• Frequently pick up pet waste from your yard to help reduce bacterial and nutrient pollution.
• If your home has rain gutters, aim the downspouts at a porous surface so water can soak into soil. If the soil is compacted, you can improve drainage by periodically aerating it. To prevent water from pooling next to your home’s foundation, extend downspouts further out into the yard and create a depressed area to collect storm-water for infiltration.
• Instead of conventional concrete or asphalt pathways, patios, and driveways, try using when possible, bricks, gravel, mulch, or other porous products. These types of materials allow rainwater to seep into the ground, helping to recharge groundwater and filter pollutants and reduce the amount of runoff from your yard.

9. Protect the Waterfront

Florida is covered with water. The state boasts over 10,000 miles of rivers and streams, about 7,800 lakes, more than 700 freshwater springs, and the second-longest coastline in the United States. Even if you do not reside on a waterfront, the land you live on is directly connected to a nearby body of water. Since bays and waterways contribute to the quality of life in Sarasota and Manatee, here are some tips to help you do you part in protecting Florida’s waters.

• Create shoreline vegetation. Most of the land along the water’s edge in Sarasota and Manatee County is called the riparian zone and is often a wetland. Some cities and counties require homeowners to establish a buffer zone to protect this area. If there is no buffer zone along your waterfront, add Florida-Friendly, low-maintenance plantings to help filter out pesticide and fertilizer runoff from adjacent lawns and landscaped areas.
• Create a maintenance-free zone in your yard. Whether you live on a natural or man-made body of water, it is important to designate a “maintenance-free zone”. This area helps to protect the water from runoff. Do not mow, fertilize, or apply pesticides in the maintenance-free zone. Select plants that will do well without fertilization or irrigation after establishment.
• Do not let grass clippings get washed into the body of water that adjoins your property, their high nutrient content can cause pollution. Frequently pick up all pet waste from your yard since this contains a lot of harmful bacteria.

Information contained in this blog post was obtained in part from the University of Florida IFAS Extension. www.FloridaYards.org 

Feel free to leave a comment or suggestion below - we love hearing from our landscape design fans and value your feedback!

9 Landscaping Principles for Sarasota and Manatee Friendly Yards

Tweet

  

 

In part 2 of this 3 part blog post we are going to delve in to, and elaborate on the 9 principles of landscaping a Florida Friendly Yard.

Sarasota, Florida is a popular place to live because of its appealing climate, unique beauty, and great quality of life. However, gardening here can be tough! Florida soils are typically sandy, summers are hot, and insects are abundant. As a gardener, you know how hard it can be to keep your plants alive, your lawn green, and your flowers blooming.

These 9 principles will give you some ideas on how to make your yard Florida-Friendly. Plant-It Landscape conforms to these principles, and every day we do our part to create a more sustainable Florida!

4. Mulch

No-one likes weeds in their yard! Regular mulching of your flower beds helps control weeds. A mulch layer around trees, shrubs, and planted beds provides many benefits to your yard. Asides from weed control, it retains soil moisture, reduces erosion and storm water runoff. In areas that are difficult to mow, irrigate, or otherwise maintain, use mulch to replace turf or groundcovers. Also consider placing mulch in shady areas where many plants don’t grow well.

Here are some helpful tips for you:

• Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch for a layer that will be 2 to 3 inches when settled. You should apply mulch once or twice a year to maintain a 2 to 3 inch layer.
• When applying mulch keep a 2 inch area around your plants to avoid disease.
• Instead of picking up fallen leaves under trees, leave them in place to create self mulching areas.
• Avoid using cypress mulch which is harvested from wetlands.
• Cut down on mowing by taking grassed areas that are shaded and difficult to get to, and turning them in to mulched areas.

In summary, mulch is a wonderful addition to any landscape, because it buffers soil temperature, keeps soils and plant roots warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and reduces the water needs of plants. It adds beauty to any yard by giving flower beds a neat and uniform appearance, and its color and texture can complement plantings.

5. Attract Wildlife

Everyone enjoys a bit of wildlife in their South West Florida yard, and you can bring your yard to life by providing water, food, and shelter for birds, butterflies, and other creatures.

You can attract wildlife by following these simple tips:

• Provide a water source for wildlife such as a small pond with a fountain or a birdbath.
• Wildlife like food, so if you can select plants with seeds, fruit, foliage, or flowers that butterflies, birds, and other wildlife like to eat, you are sure to attract lots of wildlife. Berries, fleshy fruits, nuts, and acorns are all treats for many animals!
• Manage your pets. If you want to see wildlife in your yard, you will seriously hinder your efforts if you allow pets to harass or kill them. Try and keep your cats inside.
• Reduce your insecticide use. Insecticides reduce insect population, which form an important food source for birds.
• Create wildlife shelters in your yard such as a bird house, or bat house.

6. Manage Yard Pests Responsibly

Pest management in the home landscape once relied heavily on the use of chemicals. Today that is changing because of concerns for human health and environmental safety. Scientists now recommend using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a strategy that helps gardeners prevent and manage pest problems with as few chemicals as possible.

You can create an effective defense against pests in your yard and at the same time minimize your impact on the environment by following these tips:

• Plan carefully before you plant. Plants in locations not suited to them may be stressed and thus more susceptible to pests.
• Start early. IPM begins at planting time, with the selection of plants that are pest-free and pest-resistant.
• Keep your plants healthy. Using appropriate amounts of water and fertilizer is the best defense against pests.
• Conduct regular checks on your plants. Keep an eye on your yard’s plants to detect pest problems early, and prune off a plant’s infected area, or pick off insects when possible before significant damage occurs.
• Go easy on water and fertilizer. Too much of either can cause excessive growth, making plants vulnerable to some insects and diseases. Encourage healthy growth by applying fertilizer and water only when they’re needed and in moderate amounts.
• Mow to the proper height and prune selectively. Mowing grass too short and severely pruning trees and shrubs weakens them, potentially inviting problems.
• Encourage beneficial insects. Learn to recognize the insects in your garden that help manage pests and let them continue their good work!

Information contained in this blog post was obtained in part from the University of Florida IFAS Extension. www.FloridaYards.org

9 Landscaping Principles for Sarasota & Manatee Friendly Yards

Tweet

  

 

In this 3 part blog post we are going to delve in to, and elaborate on the 9 principles of landscaping a Florida Friendly Yard.

Environmental Associates adheres to the principles that have been laid out by the University of Florida IFAS Extension in each and every job they perform throughout Sarasota, Manatee, and Venice, Florida.

History & Background

Florida-Friendly Landscapes protect Florida’s unique natural resources by conserving water, reducing waste and pollution, creating wildlife habitat, and preventing erosion. Any landscape can be Florida-Friendly if it is designed and cared for according to the nine Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles, which encourage individual expression of landscape beauty.

In 2009, the Florida Legislature found “that the use of Florida-friendly landscaping and other water use and pollution prevention measures to conserve or protect the state’s water resources serves a compelling public interest and that the participation of homeowners’ associations and local governments is essential to the state’s efforts in water conservation and water quality protection and restoration.” Florida Yards and Neighborhoods is the residential program of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program.

These 9 principles will give you some ideas on how to make your yard Florida-Friendly. Plant-It Landscape conform to these principles, and every day we do our part to create a more sustainable Florida!

1. Right Plant, Right Place

Almost any plant can survive in your yard if you plant it in the right location. Did you know that you can drastically reduce the need for watering, and application of fertilizer and pesticides if you follow certain guidelines? Here are some helpful tips for you:

• Limit the number of plants that need a lot of water and ongoing care and attention.
• Take note of the type of soil, sunlight exposure, and water conditions of the particular area(s) you intend to install your plants prior to making any purchases. With your notes in hand, you can then carefully select the appropriate plants and shrubbery that will thrive under these conditions.
• Based on your own recreational needs, only keep as much grass as you feel you will use in your yard. Flower beds and mulched areas use less water than grassed areas.
• Remove any invasive exotic plants from your landscape so they do not steal water and nutrition from your Florida-Friendly plants.

2. Water Efficiently

Typically, up to 50% of a households water bill is used outside the house. If you water efficiently, it will not only conserve water and save you money, you should also be creating a healthier landscape.

Reduce your water bill, pest problems, and maintenance issues by following these tips:

• Only water your lawn and plants when you know they need it, or when they show signs of stress
• Install a drip or micro-spray irrigation system in your flower beds. This is much more water efficient than traditional spray head irrigation.
• Have a professional install an automatic rain shutoff device to avoid water your yard while it is raining or if you have recently had a good rain shower.
• Many people in Sarasota and Manatee Counties overwater their yards because it is so hot and humid all the time. Stop overwatering! If you overwater your grass it develops short roots that make it harder to survive disease, drought, and pest attacks.
• Buy or make your own rain barrel and start collecting water so it can be re-used to water your plants.
• Buy a rain gauge or water sensor so you will know if you have had enough recent rainfall to avoid an unnecessary watering.

3. Fertilize Appropriately

By using fertilizer appropriately we can all help prevent water pollution in Sarasota and Manatee. If too much fertilizer is applied to lawns and flower beds it seeps past the root system and into the aquifer, or runs off in to our creeks and streams.

Here are some helpful tips to help you fertilize responsibly:

• Use slow-release fertilizers that make nutrients available to lawns and shrubs over a longer period of time. These fertilizers are much better to the environment and can usually be more cost effective.
• Do not fertilize right before heavy rain is expected. When you do fertilize, do not over water after applying.
• Avoid where possible, weed and feed products.
• Only fertilize your lawn and shrubs to maintain their health. Do not over fertilize in situations where grass or shrubs are not growing properly due to disease or pests, or too much shade.
• Use iron instead of nitrogen if you want to get your lawn looking a lot greener.
• Apply fertilizer as per the directions and do so with a drop spreader as opposed to a rotary spreader.

Information contained in this blog post was obtained in part from the University of Florida IFAS Extension. www.FloridaYards.org

Welcome! – Your Sarasota Landscape Design & Fertilization Company

Tweet

  

 

Who is Environmental Associates and why are we Blogging?

Environmental Associates was founded in 2007 by Travis Leicht with the purpose of melding technology and best management practices to the Sarasota and Manatee Florida Landscape Industry. We aim to provide the best landscape design and fertilization services in the market.

We are a young, energetic, and extremely customer focused business that believes there is a better way to provide Landscaping and Fertilization services to homeowners in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Casey Key, Siesta Key, and Longboat Key, FL. We are committed to developing lasting relationships with our clients through integrity, trust, and excellence.

We have experienced incredible growth since 2007 and we look forward to giving back to our community by creating informative and educational blog posts to share with our readers. We certainly encourage and welcome your comments, suggestions, and ideas, so feel free to let us know what is on your mind and let’s engage in some conversation!

We want to help South West Florida homeowners have healthier lawns, shrubs, and properties. Really enabling your plants to thrive in the Sarasota, Florida year round weather. As we all know, the temperatures in South West Florida can be brutal most of the time and pose various challenges when trying to grow a lush landscape. If things are not taken care of properly and the correct levels of fertilization are not applied at the appropriate intervals throughout the year, then you really can find yourself in a lot of trouble with weeds taking control of your yard, and plants not coping with the climate we have.

We are all about creating awareness of the South West Florida landscape industry by keeping you up to speed with what is going on in the landscape and fertilization world in South West Florida. Even if you are not in our service area and we are not able to physically take care of your yard, at least we can let you know what certain things can be done throughout the year, when is a good time to purchase plants, so you can make educated and informed decisions about the well-being of your yard.

Thanks for stopping by our Sarasota Landscape and Fertilization Blog. We look forwarding to hearing from you! As a reminder, we certainly welcome your comments, so feel free to leave one right here, and on any of our other blog postings.

If you would prefer to e-mail us you can do so by e-mailing team@environmentalassociatesllc.com or feel free to call us on 941-914-4747.

Feel free to leave a comment or suggestion below - we love hearing from our landscape design fans and value your feedback!