Yards are such a simple pleasure, but they also cause us a lot of stress. This time of year, in a flash they can go from freshly mowed to overgrown jungle—sometimes seemingly overnight.
At other times, grass gets scorched or disappears entirely; it develops bald spots or grows unevenly; it refuses to appear in some spots but creeps over your driveway or into your flower beds.
We may live in a lush part of the world, but maintaining a neat, even, and beautifully green lawn is surprisingly challenging.
So where do you start? For professional landscaping and lawn care in Bradenton, we always look at what kind of grass you’ve got first. The species (and it could be more than one) that occupies your property helps to determine how much care it needs, and when.
So here’s what to expect from different types of grass occupying your Bradenton lawn.
St. Augustine
Pros: A local favorite for its thick coverage and durability, St. Augustine grass thrives in our southwest Florida climate. In a healthy lawn, it grows thick like shag carpeting with broad waxy leaves, even in partially shady areas. Its long, horizontal stems, sort of like vines, don’t allow weeds much of a chance.
Cons: St. Augustine can drink up a lot of water and it’s also susceptible to bugs. Exceptionally thick lawns can be challenging to walk on, especially for people who require mobility assistance.
Bermuda
Pros: This resilient species shows up a lot on local sports fields and golf courses. It’s resilient to drought, sandy soil, and salt, and it’s one of the fastest-growing species around. You can also start it from seed in bare spots that get full sun.
Cons: Bermuda grass might be resilient, but that doesn’t mean it’s low maintenance. Its fast growth rate means it needs to be mowed frequently, but it also needs regular fertilization. Also, as a perennial, it can go brown over winter.
Zoysia
Pros: The ideal barefoot grass, zoysia is luxurious and soft. But despite that delicate feel, it can stand up to foot traffic, and it doesn’t require a lot of maintenance because it grows slowly and doesn’t require a ton of water. Win-win!
Cons: You’ll pay for that luxury up front, as zoysia tends to be more expensive than other species of grass. It also takes a while to establish, and if you’re further inland, you might experience a few frosty days a year that can be harmful to zoysia.
Bahia
Pros: Bahia grass loves Florida, and Florida loves it back. It grows readily in Bradenton, and lawn care is low maintenance: It doesn’t need much water, even in drought conditions, and it’s not even susceptible to pests.
Cons: Unfortunately, Bahia grass just isn’t as pretty as other Bradenton yard options. It doesn’t provide the same thick coverage that you get with other grasses, and if you go to long between mowings, it grows tall, seedy stalks that look like weeds. It’s also not going to grow in your yard’s shady patches.
Bradenton Lawn Care for Bradenton Lawns
Lawncare is different everywhere, and you need a local lawn company that knows how to handle the unique challenges presented by the types of plants that grow here. When you work with Big South Lawn, you get Bradenton lawn care experts with more than a decade of experience in nurturing our local lawns.
