Florida Lawn Handbook

Promoting Turf Recovery Following a Hurricane

J. Bryan Unruh, A. J. Lindsey, Marco Schiavon, and L. E. Trenholm

Devastation from hurricanes can cause multiple problems for turfgrass managers, sod producers, and homeowners. Damage may include visible factors such as prolonged periods of standing water, uprooted trees, shading and obstruction from demolished structures, deposition of silt or mud, and damage to irrigation systems. Less visible problems may include damage to root systems resulting from compacted soil from heavy equipment used during cleanup and recovery, reduced drainage, and injury resulting from effects of saltwater intrusion. Suggested guidelines for correcting these problems are included in the text.

La grama centípeda (césped ciempiés) para patios de Florida

J. B. Unruh, A. J. Lindsey y M. Schiavon. Traducido por A. Fernanda Arevalo Alvarenga

El centipedegrass o pasto ciempiés (Eremochloa ophiuroides [Munro] Hack.) se introdujo en los Estados Unidos desde el sureste asiático en 1916. Este pasto está bien adaptado al clima y los suelos del centro y norte de Florida y es el césped residencial más común en el noroeste de Florida. Esta publicación está destinada a entusiastas de césped y paisajismo de Florida, y profesionales en mantenimiento de pasto ciempiés en paisaje residencial y comercial.

Bahiagrass for Florida Lawns

Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, and Kevin E. Kenworthy

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Homeowner audience(s).

Bermudagrass for Florida Lawns

Laurie E. Trenholm, Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, and Travis W. Shaddox

Bermudagrasses are among the most widely used warm-season grasses. Improved, fine-textured bermudagrasses are used throughout the South on golf courses, athletic fields, and in high-profile residential and commercial landscapes where a fine-textured, dense ground cover is desired. This publication reviews current cultivars available in Florida and best management practices for maintaining bermudagrass lawns in Florida. Minor revision by L. Trenholm, M. Schiavon, J.B. Unruh, and T. Shaddox; 5 pp.

Centipedegrass for Florida Lawns

J. B. Unruh, A. J. Lindsey, and M. Schiavon

Centipedegrass is a commonly grown, low input turfgrass used in landscapes throughout the state of Florida. This factsheet provide science based information on the culture and management of centipedegrass including mowing, irrigation, pest control, and cultural practices.

St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns

Laurie E. Trenholm, Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, Travis W. Shaddox, and Kevin E. Kenworthy

St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum [Walt.] Kuntze) is widely adapted to the warm, humid (subtropical) regions of the world. It is believed to be native to the coastal regions of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean. St. Augustinegrass is the most commonly used lawn grass in Florida (Figure 1). This publication is intended for homeowners and turfgrass managers that manage St. Augustinegrass in the state of Florida.

Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns

J. Bryan Unruh, Marco Schiavon, Alex J. Lindsey, Kevin E. Kenworthy, and L. E. Trenholm

Zoysiagrasses were introduced into the United States from Asia and provide attractive turf throughout much of the United States. In recent years, newer cultivars of zoysiagrass have entered the market with improved insect resistance, accelerated establishment, and better overall performance. This 8-page major revision of the Environmental Horticulture Department was written by J. Bryan Unruh, Marco Schiavon, Alex J. Lindsey, Kevin E. Kenworthy, and L. E. Trenholm.

Preparing to Plant a Florida Lawn

L.E. Trenholm, Amy L. Shober, and Eban Z. Bean

General Recommendations for Fertilization of Turfgrasses on Florida Soils

T. W. Shaddox

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial and Homeowner audience(s).

The Florida Fertilizer Label

T. W. Shaddox

How to Calibrate Your Fertilizer Spreader

T. W. Shaddox, J. B. Unruh, and L. E. Trenholm

Fertilizer application is only effective if you ensure uniform coverage. Dry fertilizers can be applied with either a drop spreader or a rotary spreader. This publication provides step-by-step instructions for adjusting the sprtead pattern to distribute the fertilizer particles uniformly; then measuring and adjusting the amount of fertilizer spread over the desired area to equal the recommended application rate.

Mowing Your Florida Lawn

L. E. Trenholm, J. B. Unruh, and J. L. Cisar

Watering Your Florida Lawn

L. E. Trenholm, J. B. Unruh, and J. L. Cisar

Weed Management Guide for Florida Lawns

J. Bryan Unruh, Pawel Petelewicz, Laurie E. Trenholm, Erin E. Harlow, and Ramon G. Leon

Weeds can be defined as unwanted plants or plants growing out of place. Proper identification and some understanding of how and why weeds are present in a lawn are important when selecting the best control strategy. Knowing if weeds were previously present in an area also helps homeowners prepare control measures in the future. Weed control should be a carefully planned and coordinated program.

Turfgrass Disease Management

M. L. Elliott and P. F. Harmon

Nematode Management in Residential Lawns

William T. Crow

Plant-parasitic nematodes are among the least understood and most difficult pests to manage on turfgrass in Florida. They are very small, and most can only be seen with the aid of a microscope. They use a stylet to puncture plant cells, to inject digestive juices into them, and to ingest plant fluids. The most reliable way to determine whether plant-parasitic nematodes are involved in a turf problem is to have a nematode assay conducted by a professional nematode diagnostic lab.