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How to Care for Floratam Grass
We are going to answer that question, how to care for Floratam. Let’s be real for a second: finding the right grass in Florida can be a challenge. Between the weather and soil type, you can’t use just any grass and expect it to thrive. Enter Floratam grass, a variation of St. Augustine grass. This turf grass was created by the University of Florida and Texas A & M University and released in 1973. Throughout this article, we will talk a little more about what makes Floratam grass such a hit in Florida and how you can take the best care of it.
Why Floratam?
This grass is the perfect variety for a Florida lawn. It grows with strong roots in mildly acidic soil, and it can very quickly grow horizontally which is what makes it ideal for lawns. They made this specific version of this grass to be resistant to pests, which can be a huge problem in Florida where the weather gets things a bit humid. Floratam loves the warm weather, too, which is why it especially thrives in the spring and summer with bold color. It’ll start to fade as fall rolls around and then goes dormant and dimmer in winter. Even better? It’s a big fan of salt, perfect for life on the coast!
How to Care For Floratam & Keep It Healthy
Does this sound like the start of your perfect lawn? If so, then you probably want to have a good idea of how to keep it in good shape. Here are some important things to know:
- Starting point: Floratam doesn’t produce seeds, so you’ll have to start it off with sod. Once there, it’s able to self-propagate and grow quickly.
- Mowing: The blades of Floratam are blunt and thick. Keeping it around 3-4 inches will allow it to show off that aspect and look nice and luscious. When you mow, you will want to be sure that your blades are nice and sharp, as dull blades can pull it out instead of cutting it. You also need to ensure that you don’t cut it too short, as that is also not good for the grass. Keeping it at the recommended height is what will allow the Floratam to maintain its strong roots.
- Clearing: Thatch is, essentially, a buildup of dead grass and other debris that gets caught in it. Floratam is known for collecting a lot of it. Leaving a little bit of thatch is perfectly healthy for your lawn, but too much and it’ll prevent it from growing. Try to clear it out whenever you notice that it’s getting heavy.
- Watering: Floratam has the definite upside of being drought-tolerant, which means that it doesn’t need a ton of water to thrive. About an inch each week should be enough to do the trick and, when you do water, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting that water in nice and deep for the best results.
- Soil: As we mentioned earlier, Floratam likes soil that is just a hint acidic. One thing to keep in mind is that you also want to have enough nitrogen in your soil. If that’s lacking, you can use a nitrogen-rich fertlilizer every few months to boost the levels and keep that grass healthy.
As you can see, Floratam is a hardy variety of grass that is locally grown on sod farms. It grows easily, requires some basic care, and can withstand heat and lack of water for periods of time. All of this means that if you want a nice-looking lawn, this grass can be a solid choice for any homeowner. While you will still have to do some work, Floratam almost looks out for itself. Give it a try and see if it lives up to the hype!
Complete our online form, or give us a call today. We have decades of local experience and can make sure your lawn looks its best and your home is free of pests! If you are overwhelmed, need help or just want someone else to care for Floratam for you, reach out to us.