Fertilizing in Southwest Florida is completely different from any other environment. Our tropical climate, months of drought, and close proximity to the water makes responsibly fertilization a key component to landscaping. The Southwest Florida Water Management District has identified key areas to consider about fertilizer. Firstly, contrary to some beliefs, fertilizer is not always harmful, in fact, it can keep your lawn healthy by:

• Increasing leaf and root growth.
• Aiding in the recovery from pest damage and environmental stresses.
• Reducing and controlling weeds.
• Replacing nutrients lost to plant growth and leaching.

Whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring professionals to care for your property, it’s still important to be conscientious of proper fertilization tips, tricks, and practices. Knowing when to fertilize is half the battle. To prevent fertilizer from washing into water bodies, it’s important to know the right time to fertilize. Follow these tips before fertilizing:

• Consider the time of year, climate, soil type and, most important, type of grass and health or condition of the lawn before applying fertilizer.
• Fertilize only when the grass is actively growing. For instance, during the winter, grass is dormant in many areas of Florida; therefore, fertilizer is not necessary.
• If your lawn has problem areas, find out if this is related to a pest, soil or environmental problem such as excess shade or the uneven distribution of irrigation water.
• Do not fertilize if rain is predicted in the next 24–36 hours or when a heavy rain, tropical storm, hurricane or flood is predicted

Contact Blue Landscape Contracting Group with any questions or concerns. We provide residential and commercial service to all Southwest Florida properties. Trust a professional to take care of your lawn, keeping it healthy and green with Florida-Friendly practices. You can’t have green with the BLUE! Call us today to learn more about our services.