Fertilizer application is best done during the fall season. Fall is a good time to provide your lawn with much needed fertilizer supplement and weed control solutions because the weather is very conducive for nutrient absorption. Trees and shrubs also tend to lose a lot of their natural green color and their leaves during this season. Yes, this is the natural course of things, but this is also the signal to start bringing out those sacks of fertilizer out of the shed.

Though places like Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco, along with other areas in Florida, do not feel what others would call a full blown fall season, the effect on your lawn and other plants are still the same.

Giving sufficient amounts of lawn fertilizer during the fall increases the chances of having greener and thicker lawn for the whole year. It is recommended that you ask your local lawn care company to feed your lawn during early spring and before the first cold snap. The key is choosing the right kind of fertilizer.

Fertilizers are high in nitrogen and potassium, both of which are important for the recovery and nourishment of your lawn from the hot season. Always choose a slow-release fertilizer for your lawn. Slow-release fertilizers are generally more cost effective than ordinary fertilizers. They also lessen nitrogen seepage during the rain. Horticultural studies are now allotting much of their energy in formulating fertilizers that are less hazardous to the environment.

When it comes to your trees and shrubs, always note that they need as much water as your lawn does. Water and fertilizers should always work together. The right proportion of fertilizer and water help in the proper propagation of roots in plants. In fact, root growth is quite active during the fall, even if you don't see a lot of activity up top. Water also helps control the concentration of weed killers you may have applied to your lawn.

There are specific weeds that only grow during the colder seasons. Some of these are broad leaves, dandelions, and clovers. Weed killers can easily take care of this problem. Since these weeds are in the process of gathering nutrients and starches during autumn in preparation for the coming cold, applying weed killers to the soil would be like spoon feeding a bunch of hungry people their favorite dish. Absorption is quick and deadly.

Fall also brings a particular group of pests that can destroy your whole landscape. Some specific areas in Florida like Hillsborough often experience an attack of army worms, grubs, mole crickets, and chinch bugs. Army worms are actually the larva of moths and they heavily feed on turf grasses and St. Augustine grass. Grubs, on the other hand, are the larva of Japanese beetles and are often the first pests on site during fall. Mole crickets are night crawlers and attack after rain. An invasion of these insects can destroy your entire lawn in a day. The answer is pesticide application. However, it is best that you leave this part to professional lawn care companies because it involves the use of harsh compounds. The misuse of insecticides and pesticides can result to destruction of your lawn, trees, and shrubs.

Pest control is available for both residential and commercial areas. Pests are not only hazardous to your lawn, but possibly to you and your family. Check your state or county Cooperative Extension Services to get an idea of what to expect (or ask for) from the lawn care company.

Other lawn care services may include Natural Lawn Care, Organic Lawn Care, Tree and Shrub Care Services, landscaping, Power Seeding, and Mower Maintenance.

Southern Care Lawns, Inc.

P. O. Box 57

Tarpon Springs, FL 34688

http://www.southerncarelawns.com

(727) 810-2273