In the sunny heat of Tampa, Florida, a lawn should ride the balance between having curb appeal and being climate friendly. Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to make the most of a yard in Tampa.
Choosing the right type of turf to lay across a lawn, specifically ones adapted to the warm, wet climate, will help the landscape thrive in this climate. Obeying local watering restrictions is a must, as is mowing to the correct height.
If you are looking for tips on how to keep your lawn in top shape, Ashley Roberts of Tampa Bay Florida explores a few Tampa lawn care secrets in the article below.
Choose The Right Grass
Picking native plants is one of the best choices for laying out a lawn and garden that will flourish in Tampa’s sunny weather. Specifically, spreading out turf that can thrive in this climate will set a foundation for the rest of the yard.
Bahia, Centipede, and St. Augustine are the most popular grass types for Tampa Bay lawns. These warm-season grasses hold up well against the mix of humidity and heat that a nine-month summer can deliver.
St. Augustine grass is the most popularly used lawn grass in Florida. It has a green or blue-green tone and is perfectly dense. St. Augustine grass is ideal for these types of soils and climates.
Plant Native Flora
Adorning a yard with plants that are native to the area not only means they’ll be able to adapt to the climate. It is also an ecologically sound idea. Native flora attracts native fauna – specifically crucial pollinators like bees, butterflies, and songbirds.
Here are some of the best native plants for a Tampa Bay, Florida yard:
- Bald cypress
- Bidens alba
- Sabal palm
- Swamp lilies
- Sea grapes
- White stoppers
- Shiny leaf wild coffee
- Sea-oxeye daisies
- Seaside heliotrope
- Seaside goldenrod
- Butterfly milkweed
All of these plants are lovely to look at and will fill a lawn with color and life. Not only that, but they are hearty and usually low maintenance.
Water Mindfully
The most common grasses for Tampa’s climate will all get by without excessive watering. As many areas in Florida have strict watering rules, local restrictions should be recognized and followed.
Tampa (and Hillsborough County) specifically delegates that homeowners cannot water their lawns outside of 12:01 am and 8 am. Watering resumes from 6:00 pm to 11:59pm.
Any one zone of a property can only be watered once a day. That means that a homeowner cannot water their front lawn at 5 am, and then again at 9 am.
Tampa also mandates a two day a week watering schedule.
Mow Carefully
When tending to a lawn in Tampa, mowing grass below the recommended height welcomes weeds and pests into the landscape. For the three most common types of grass found in this climate, the recommended lengths are as follows:
- St. Augustine: 3 ½ – 4 inches
- Bahia: 3-4 inches
- Centipede: 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches
Not only will these grasses look their best when kept slightly longer, but they will have the best chance at living well in a Florida climate.
Conclusion
Studying up on the native plants of Tampa Bay, FL’s climate will go a long way in fostering a vibrant, healthy lawn. Pair that knowledge with that of local watering regulations, and Florida lawn care will become a breeze.
