#1 Winter Park, FL Lawn Care & Lawn Mowing Guide

Winter Park lawn care is challenging because the city receives little rain. The highest average rain is in June, around 7.4 inches, and the lowest average rain is in November and December, around 2.3 inches. Winter Park is still a lovely place to go outdoors though. The Mead Botanical Park and Harry P Leu Gardens are scenic areas to visit, full of vibrant plants. But for Winter Lake lawns, it’s easy for your property to dry up and turn brown.

That’s why we made our Winter Park lawn care guide. It covers all the bases and will keep your lawn green if you follow these tips.

The 3 Most Popular Grass Types in Winter Park

According to the University of Florida, there are four major grass types in the state. Each grass type has their own mowing heights and growing conditions—so before we get deep into lawn lawn care—you should first know what grass you’re working with. Don’t waste time mistreating your lawn. Here are the most common grass types.

Bahia

Bahia, a Brazilian grass, grows well in the South because it can grow in sandy soil. This grass has resistance to both cold temperatures and insects. However, there are weaknesses to this turfgrass too: salt water and foot traffic. If you live in a place near the beach or where your lawn is likely to be stepped on, avoid planting this grass.

Recommended Mowing Height: 3-4 inches

Seashore Paspalum

However, if you live near the beach or experience frequent foot traffic, this warm-season turfgrass is ideal. Seashore Paspalum is very durable, tolerates infertile and sandy soils well and survives even in waterlogged conditions. Even weeds on occasion don’t survive the salty conditions that Paspalum can. The color of this grass is also attractive, displaying a bright green sheen.

Recommended Mowing Height: 0.5-1 inch

Zoysia

This grass—popular for its lovely color and its high tolerance against high heat and heavy foot traffic—is among the pricier side for lawns. Also, Zoysia requires a lot of lawn maintenance. It grows slowly and takes roughly 1 to 3 months for it to establish on your lawn. Furthermore if it’s damaged, Zoysia will recover slowly too, so make sure you’re not lawn mowing too frequently. Make sure you plant this grass in areas with plenty of sunlight since it’s weak under cold, winter temperatures.

Recommended Mowing Height: 1½ to 2 inches

St. Augustine

This turfgrass grows well in shady areas. If your lawn receives relatively little sunlight, then St. Augustine is a good choice. This grass needs more cold and frost in order to grow dormant in the winter. However, it’s not too troublesome to care for during the cold seasons. Though be prepared for the risk of a brown yard though because this grass is not good for overseeding. 

Recommended Mowing Height: 2½ inches

Winter Park Lawn Maintenance Tips

Mowing Tips

Don’t cut more than one-third of the height of your grass. Your grass will weaken and become prone to disease if it’s cut too short. In addition, remember to mow frequently until the growth of your lawn either slows down or halts. Also, use a different pattern each time you mow, or else your grass blades will lean in the direction you mow, and your lawn will look weird.

After each mow, leave the grass clippings behind. They will decompose and become a rich fertilizer for your lawn. This may make your lawn seem unkempt,  idea, but your lawn will greatly benefit. If you hired a lawn service professional, make sure to remind this person to do so. 

Make Sure Mower Blades are Sharp

Lawn mower blades dull over time. If they’re not sharpened, they will tear up your lawn and turn it brown. With sharp mower blades, you only need to pass over your lawn once instead of multiple times to get the job done. Also, new lawn mowers sometimes don’t come with very sharp blades.  You can sharpen your mower blades by either taking it to a lawn service professional or follow this DIY guide with pictures.

Set the Right Blade Height

The cutting height of your mower is adjustable by raising or lowering the mower’s wheel. Look on the side of your lawn mower and find a knob or lever that adjusts the height. Use the previously mentioned recommended heights as your reference.

Don’t Forget About Overseeding

Overseeding means spreading grass seeds over your lawn. This helps your lawn recuperates and fixes patchy areas. Grass, like any other plant, wilts and dies over time, so this method preserves your lawn, especially if it experiences regular foot traffic. 

The best growing periods are usually during the spring and fall. Before you overseed, first rake your lawn and remove any dead grass. This will loosen up the soil, which the seeds need direct contact in order to grow. Remember to scatter the seeds evenly across the lawn. 

Core Aeration in Winter Park

Aeration means creating holes in soil. This breaks apart compacted soil and improving soil drainage for your lawn. Winter Park lawns need aeration because it boosts the health of your soil and raises resistance against pests, diseases, and droughts—which can be common due to the city’s lack of rain.  

You should aerate twice a year: do it once during spring and again during fall. It’s better if you aerate early in the morning, when the soil is moist and temperatures are cool, so it’ll be easier to use your aerator.

Hiring a Winter Park Lawn Care Company

Winter Park lawn care is a time-consuming chore. Since rain is infrequent, a disciplined watering schedule is necessary. Many residents prefer to be outdoors, fishing or walking in the park, rather than mowing during their leisure. This is why many choose a more convenient option: hiring a lawn care professional.

Winter Park lawn care services offer important lawn treatment services, ranging from pest control and weed removal to aeration and overseeding. It’s also generally a good call to have an expert evaluate how much lawn maintenance your property truly needs. Furthermore, there are some good tips to bear in mind when choosing a lawn care service in Winter Park.

The first one is to hire an actual lawn service professional, not your neighbor or anyone who only offers a mower and a truck. Although hiring amateurs may seem frugal, their lack of expertise will result in a neglected and unprepared lawn in the long-term, such as failing to identify diseases and pests early. The second tip is to hire a fully-insured lawn service professional. This will save you anxiety in the rare occasion that a pro damages your property.

Finally, you should consider organizing your neighbors together and ask for a group discount from a lawn care company. If several jobs can be completed with just one visit to a neighborhood, landscapers are more likely to offer discounts because they profit more due to the time saved on their schedules. Landscapers are also held to greater accountability for quality since you and your neighbors will be able to compare lawns afterwards.

Top 15 Lawn Care Companies in Winter Park

Now you might wonder: where to find a Winter Park lawn care service near me? Since finding a top-rated lawn mowing service can be challenging, we offer a list below that ranks the best Winter Park lawn care services based on our review of online customer satisfaction. WikiLawn.com is in no way affiliated with these, nor have we used them.

Orlando LawnScapes can do a serious overhaul of your yard, from removing dead or diseased sod to laying new sod and irrigation systems.  They even offer pressure washing to get your property looking its best. A dedicated Customer Care Team will answer all of your questions and follow up to make sure you are satisfied.  Mitch’s team has the know-how and the heavy-lifting, background-checked workers to transform your yard for a reasonable price.

Get the lawn expert that local builders use!  JMC Landscape Services can design, install, and maintain your dream yard.  JMC also specializes in lighting design to showcase the beauty of your property and provide the just-right outdoor atmosphere.

Nature’s Front Lawn provides five-star service for all of your lawn care needs.  No more mowing, edging, or raking for you! Don’t forget to ask about Fernando’s fall cleanup specials.

Allegiance of Priority is the name, and prioritizing your lawn is their game!  With several crews to meet your needs, AOP can get your lawn done on time, every time.  Call them, and become kind of a big deal.

Porti’a will handle your mowing, edging, and fertilizing with professionalism and refreshing politeness.  Raving fans have claimed that Porti’a does the best job ever! Give this up-and-coming lawn care company a try and see for yourself.

To keep your lawn at its peak, treat it right in each season.  Peak Landscaping can handle the seasonal tasks that put your lawn in tip-top shape.  Aerating to promote new growth, removing shed leaves that can suffocate your grass, and keeping up with mowing and edging a growing lawn are all part of their regular services.

M Landscaping gives you no-frills value.  Call Milad for basic lawn care done right.  He won’t waste your time or your money; he will cut your lawn.