Grass Seed Fertilizer & Weed Killer for Florida Lawns

Grass Seed

• Sodding your yard is the fastest way to get a lawn established, but it is also usually the most expensive method. A slower, but less costly approach is seeding. The University of Florida's Turf Grass Science Program recommends six different grasses for Florida lawns, including Bahai grass (Paspalum notatum Flugge), Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp.), centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides Munro Hack), Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum), St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum [Walt.] Kuntze) and Zoysia grass (Zoysia spp.). St. Augustine grass can only be established vegetatively by plugs, sprigs or sod, and the availability of seeds for Seashore Paspalum is rare; its preferred method of establishment is by sod, plugs or sprigs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Common varieties of Bahai grass, Bermuda grass and centipede grass are available in seeds, as is the Zoysia japonica species of Zoysia grass, but hybrid varieties of these grasses can only be established vegetatively.

Fertilizer

• A healthy lawn is your best defense against encroachment by weeds and other pests, but maintaining your lawn's health typically means properly applying the right amount of the right kind of fertilizer at the right time. Too little, too much or the wrong kind of fertilizer can damage or weaken your lawn and some might leach into Florida's groundwater supply or runoff into surrounding surface waters. Fertilizers sold in Florida typically include three numbers on the bag indicating their levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The type of grass in your lawn will dictate the formula of fertilizer you need, but unless you have a soil test done that recommends adding phosphorus, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension recommends using fertilizers with no phosphorus.

Weed Killer

• The best weed killer for your Florida lawn is cultivating a health lawn. A lush, dense turf crowds out weeds and shields weed seeds from the sunlight necessary for germination. However, if weeds are already a problem, applying weed killer is your next line of defense. Pre-emergent weed killers are good for annual weeds, like crabgrass and chickweed, because they prevent seeds from germinating. Pre-emergents typically aren't selective; do not use them if you've just seeded your lawn. If you already have weeds growing in your lawn, you have a choice between contact and systemic weed killers. Contact weed killers kill the part of the plant they come in contact with. Since they don't kill the part of the plant below ground, repeated applications are often necessary. Systemic weed killers take longer, but kill the weed top and the root.

Regular Lawn Maintenance

• Regular lawn maintenance is necessary to developing a healthy Florida lawn. A part of that process is selecting the right grass for your environment. While most Florida grasses do well in full sun, if you have shady areas, consider sowing St. Augustine or sodding with a shade-tolerant variety of Bermuda grass. Keep your lawn mowed regularly to the appropriate height. Too frequent or infrequent mowing can damage or weaken the grass, making it more susceptible to disease or weed infestation. Cleaning your gardening tools after you've used them in a weed infested area can help prevent contaminating your lawn with weed seeds.