Not Sure Where to Start With a Florida Lawn?

Horizon West resident, Simon Weafer, is the owner of  TLM Landscape Professionals.  He’s an expert in Florida lawn care with 15 years of experience caring for lawns of all shapes and sizes, including commercial properties! After moving from the UK to Florida, he set himself to the task of learning all there is to know about landscaping in our unique environment.

Like Simon, many of us moved here from all over the world and are surprised at how difficult Florida lawns can be! His time and talent are the tools you need to ensure your lawn is in top shape all year round.

Here Simon shares his expert advice on tackling Florida lawncare.  

Weather is the biggest consideration when caring for a lawn in Florida. Year-round sunshine in a tropical climate comes with challenges including, blistering heat, torrential rain & hurricanes. The weather dominates the landscape, affecting how things grow and survive. 

A unique aspect of Florida lawns is that they need attention year-round. Spend some time learning how the weather changes with each season and prepare ahead of time with proper fertilization, trimming, pruning and watering cycles! 

Elements of weather are the primary consideration for your landscaper but there’s much more to consider. Your landscaper should examine and test your soil. If you have clay soil which is common in this region, it will play a role in growth and maintenance. Tropical plants don’t necessarily grow in tropical climate due to the soil. 

Lawn and shrub also differ and it’s important for your landscaper to handle both. Taking care of diseases and insects through a wholistic approach is very important for your landscape. A little bit of time each week goes a long way to prevent extensive damage. It can be as simple as taking a stroll through your landscaping and noting any irregularities, plants that look stressed or wilted, and taking note of the soil moisture. 

Be mindful of the species of plants. Is it going to do well in full sun or in shade? Before you bring home plants, be sure to consider which way your home faces, how much sunlight each area of your landscape gets and what kind of irrigation system you have in place. 

Simon will personally meet with you for a consultation to discuss your wants, needs and vision for your landscaping. Then, taking all of that into consideration, he will recommend a landscape design that is optimal for your unique lawn. His team offers monthly maintenance to keep plants and shrubs free of insects and diseases. 

Stressed grass is going to take a toll on your landscape and irrigation is not as simple as turning on the water. The most important thing you can do is get familiar with your home’s irrigation system.  Measure your water by putting a tin can or small container like a shallow Tupperware outside to see how much water your lawn is getting. Move it to a variety of places throughout your lawn and landscaping to ensure adequate water is reaching each area. Be sure to note how much time it takes to reach ½ inch in each area and set your irrigation zones to match that time! 

Irrigation faux paus can add up to a total in the thousands, putting a sizable dent in your family’s home maintenance budget. Simon works with you right from the start to take into account all the variables that go into proper irrigation- time of year, soil quality, types of plants, and which areas receive full sun or mostly shade.