Lawn Care & Maintenance FAQ's related to the Pensacola and Gulf Coast region.

You work 40+ hours each week and are only off 2 days a week. Wouldn't you like to be able to spend those 2 days relaxing in your hammock or playing with the kids? You can! Call (850) 232-7548 and let us take care of your lawn and landscaping services so that you have more time to enjoy and relax in your home.

Q: When should I water my lawn and outside plants?
A: Watering should be performed in the morning. With cooler temperatures in the morning, the water is more likely to enter the soil and not evaporate into the warmer air. As long as the lawn is not freshly planted, following the city's ordinance of watering three days a week is a good schedule. Skipping days promotes good root growth. When watering, water "deep" by drenching the roots, and try to skip as many days as you can. The better your soil, and the deeper the root growth, the more days you will be able to skip.

Mowing

Mowing is one of the most important practices of lawn management. There are three main factors to consider: mowing height, mower blade sharpness, and mowing frequency and direction.

Mower Height

It is ideal not to cut more than one third of the total leaf height during any one mowing. The ideal height for your mower is 2 to 3 inches. To check the height, mow a small area then use a small ruler to measure. A short mowing height weakens the grass and increases it susceptibility to weed invasion, disease, insect problems, and injury from drought and summer heat.

Q: How sharp should my blade be?
A: The same time that you are checking the mower height, check the quality of the cut. If the grass is jagged, or there is not a clean cut, then your blade may need sharpening. Jagged cuts may also be a mechanical problem.

Q: How often should I mow my lawn?
A: It is a good practice to mow your lawn once every 7 to 10 days during the growing season. The direction or path of mowing should be altered every two mowings.

Fertilizing

Fertilizers can be applied 8 to 10 weeks in the growing season. Grass should be fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fertilizers can burn if applied improperly. You must show caution not to overlap paths. Make sure to not spill extra fertilizer on the lawn when making turns. There are a lot of new fertilizers for all kinds of lawn problems; we even carry a line of organic lawn fertilizers. Talk to your Viola’s professional to help you decide which fertilizer is best for your lawn. NOTE: You will see a big difference in the spring if you apply winterizer to your lawn in the early spring.

Aerating & Removing Thatch

You may want to visit a local rental store for an aerator. An aerator will create 2 to 3 inch holes in your lawn, allowing water and air to reach the roots. The aerator will leave plugs behind that will break down within one month.

Thatch is organic debris from old lawn clippings that have not decomposed and remain on the surface of your lawn. You can usually use a thatch rake or a regular hard rake to solve this problem. If there is too much to pick-up by hand, you may need to rent a power raker at your local rental store.
Proper mowing techniques will help minimize this problem. Please see the “Mowing” section of this page.

Irrigation Systems

Q: What are the pros of automatic irrigation systems? Aren't they wasteful?
A: Automatic irrigation systems are convenient, especially for those who travel. If installed and programmed properly, automatic irrigation systems can even save you money and help in water conservation. Dead lawn grass and plants need to be replaced, and that can be expensive. But the savings from automatic irrigation systems can go beyond that.

Watering with a hose or with an oscillator wastes water. Neither method targets plant roots with any significant degree of precision. Automatic irrigation systems can be programmed to discharge more precise amounts of water in a targeted area, which promotes water conservation.