Growing grass in Florida can be challenging due to the heat, sun, soil and certain prolific insects. There are some grasses, however, that are more tolerant of this unique environment. St. Augustine is one of the most commonly used grasses because it has adapted to warm, humid conditions and can grow in many types of soils. There are various types of St. Augustine grasses, including Floratam, which grows well in warm weather and requires full sun; Palmetto is also used for aggressive growth, but can be prone to disease in the summer months; Del-Mar is more for shade tolerance, but susceptible to cinch bugs, webworms and brown patch disease; Seville plugs spread quickly, grows well in full sun and has a fair shade tolerance, but can also fall prey to damage from cinch bugs and webworms; Bahia, which requires full sun, is drought tolerant and hardy even in infertile soil. However, it can turn yellow from lack of iron and does not tolerate excessive foot traffic.
If you decide that grass may be too much trouble in certain areas of your yard. Consider mulch. With mulch, you don’t have to worry so much about infestation and disease. Mulch also conserves soil moisture, reducing the need for irrigation. It suppressed weeds, reducing the time for manual pulling and the need for toxic herbicides. As it breaks down, it can improve the nutrition content of soil. It can also protect roots from changes in temperature. It helps create a barrier around trees, plants and gardens, which can protect against damage during lawn maintenance, and of course mulch also offers a certain aesthetic appeal.
There are several types of mulch: organic, which is bark, clippings, trimmings and such that decomposes over time; barks, which come in nuggets or shredded, break down slowly and are less likely to blow away; and synthetics, which are less commonly used mulches that are made from recycled rubber or plastic and sometimes contain slow releasing herbicide to further protect against weeds.
Whatever you decide, Edgewater Yard Shop, serving East Central Florida for over 20 years, can meet all of your landscaping supply needs. We deliver to Edgewater, Oak Hill, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Mims and the surrounding area. Stop by our convenient Edgewater location to browse our full array of inventory, or give us a call at 386-427-7383 for more information.