Florida Lawn Care Tips - NOVEMBER 2023 // Weekend Lawn Work Vlog

This is the most important thing to get right here in November if you are tending a lawn in Florida.
Here is the Florida Winter Lawn Care Guide I referenced - it's free, just download from the Google:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Dz51...
This is the most outrageously expensive sprinkler donut cutter I have ever seen - glad I'm not a gold course superintendent!
amzn.to/3Mx03S6
I recommend going to your local ACE Hardware - they will have these tools for around $35-40.
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[@Thelawncarenut]

Here is the FREE e-guide for FLorida winter lawn care - drive.google.com/file/d/1Dz51F3IItye8Cv-R9ocu-z5sAUpCqMms/view

[@davidtorres5364]

Really appreciate the transparency with your lawns shortcomings.

[@toogood222]

In Texas, summer is definitely not rainy season. 3 months with no rain, but I still get lawn of the month, and it looks like a Bermuda golf course! Hydretain saves the day.

[@kajuan2g6]

6:28 Dang, it's really been 8 years. I remember watching your vids when you lived in St. Pete. Battling Frankenstein Lawn and the Doveweed in the Salad bar. Time flies

[@ralphbell1786]

That same day I brought a little sod home to patch where irrigation work was done; there were grubs falling out of it. It was a good reminder that the new stuff hasn't been getting all the treatment that my existing lawn has.

[@brazillianguy01]

Great video!

[@ItsAlive111]

Texas was a hellish oven from June to September. No rain. 105 F for weeks. Found my weak sprinkler spots pretty fast with dead grass areas

[@79mini]

That west coast drought this year has been brutal. Good on you rejecting the sod it's been pretty dismal this season overall. Love my hunter system they poke right through the St. Aug no matter how thick it becomes. Best of all no cutouts or doughnuts.

[@GamerGee]

My best advice about line burials. I put mines in schedule 40 and bury them at least a foot down. Then I don’t have to worry about this later if I ever need to sod cut.

[@jerrenortonjr.7405]

Great info

[@allensadicario5196]

Thanks again always a great show brother

[@dylan8285]

Florida probably also the only state that uses pvc for irrigation ik here in the Midwest it’s poly cause it’s much more durable and forgiving

[@eagler8196]

Thanks for the Teflon tape hint...I always used it and was a pain to reapply to the connections in the ground.

[@lawn2learn]

Water on Rachio is very nice 😊❤ Exceptionally good on a well 😊❤

[@shane6002]

Thank you so much for making that video I live in Michigan my irrigation season is over I do have sunk in heads would like to raise them spring of next year your hands on video has given me the inspiration to try and do it on my own thank you again

[@Thelawncarenut]

Once you start digging into your setup you'll learn very quickly. Irrigation is simple. You can do it !!

[@shane6002]

@@Thelawncarenut thanks for that your videos really do help in a lot of different Ways

[@MyGuyKirby]

That long shovel I have always called a sharp shooter shouvel, great for small digging of holes and yes post holes!

[@Thelawncarenut]

It's been very useful to me over the years for many tasks for sure !

[@DK85]

I thought it was a trench shovel. Very handy.

[@lawn2learn]

Dry season was my nickname in college 😅❤

[@erineopenaloza8311]

I had to raise 5 irrigation heads last week, then this weekend another two, and dug out a 25’ trench to add a rotary sprinkler to an area that wasn’t getting enough water. I hope next summer all those areas live longer as they’ll be over the grass now to get plenty of water. I of course added some Hydretain to help them out even more.

[@Thelawncarenut]

Me too! I have a few more to raise, and one to change out and another to add on. It's definitely a lengthy process some years.

[@mswalsh68]

Can you talk about what to do if you have a tree that is just sucking up all the water and killing sod? Is the solution as simple as water more? Or is there more to it

[@danielgomes4754]

Every year I use this same donut sprinkler tool and clear the donut. Add some dirt and rock, put the donut back. With the rains and the irrigation, the donut will sink in the dirt.

[@jstarr920]

The sprinkler donuts have disappeared from every store in NE FL. The only donuts they have now are cheap concrete that will easily crumble if ran over by a big lawn mower. They even have impressions in them which will surely help them crack.

[@elian222]

I agree... The well made traditional sprinler donuts that are thick and rounded on the top are non-existent anymore.

[@johnmaurer3097]

@@elian222that’s helpful. I shopped around last year and couldn’t find any. I thought it was a fluke.

[@ayy1n]

If I still had my palmetto I would’ve sent you as much as I could Allyn 😎👍. Content is still as good as I remembered brother. Praying all is well

[@Thelawncarenut]

Thanks bro !

[@mjd3879]

Its crazy how fast our St. Augustine destroys sprinklers, feel like every season you are having to perform this maintenance. Given enough time, St. Augustine grass could take over the world!

[@christianwhite5763]

North of Austin. It took months to cover the line after they installed it.

[@ronhoop229]

I have been using ProVista and it has made a world of difference controlling torpedo grass. I use roundup as needed but its usually 3 times during the growing season. ProVista seems to brown out more quickly as we enter the fall season. I have only used high concentration of nitrogen.

[@Thelawncarenut]

yes that's it's one drawback is that it goes dormant sooner and takes longer to wake up. Just keep pushing it with nitrogen as late into the fall as you can and if you are able to water during winter that will help too.

[@rebeccaz789]

I threw out all the concrete donuts! When the St Aug interferes with an irrigation head, I cut it with a hori hour knife or scissors.

[@elian222]

Here in East Central FL nearly all the sod installers (not growers) who do direct to homeowner jobs I've spoken with offer primarily Floratam and Seville.

[@lubblegarage]

Maybe some content on "Just did not look right" when you received your sod and what to look for. Love the content and your products.

[@Thelawncarenut]

Yeah its so tough to explain "good sod" over video. But fir sure, the sod they brought would not have lived. There was almost no soil attached and it was already shriveled up.

[@barbre105]

Handcock sod in Florida sells Palmetto.

[@Striperman]

Not sure how it works with warm season grass sod, but for cool season grass sods you want it delivered within a day of it being harvested. You don't want to get it from a supplier that its been sitting for a few days. Always better to get it straight from the sod farm.

[@etc7411]

Here in Orange County after November 1 we are limited to one day watering a week

[@Thelawncarenut]

some politician wasn't very much of a lawn lover for sure!

[@davidhoover2446]

Good point it’s easy to assume people know how to water properly…

[@grimesy36]

Ever thought about doing a light scalp to get rid of all that sponginess? Will help with your watering too so it can actually get to the soil

[@Thelawncarenut]

any scalping you do will allow weeds and common bermuda grass to invade. That sponginess is just part of having a St Augustine lawn.

[@drewslawncare1913]

Would you ever do a video on like pros and cons of each bread of St Augstine?

[@user-bk5dw3dk5q]

Hey i also live in bradenton Florida🤙

[@h.w.6481]

Good Morning Allyn aka....Region Rat NWI.....Have been on board with you for over 18 months now. I appreciate your enthusiasm and humor with all you do. I recently just got a new irrigation system, brand new St. Augustine Blue here in Englewood, Fl. Its been about 5 weeks since its been installed. What would be my next steps to improve its growth and weed control. I want to do things correctly and professional so my wife doesn't call the Mental Health pick up unit on me.....!

[@Thelawncarenut]

good morning! I would apply flagship right now since you are pretty far south, you can keep pushing that new St Aug. You should also hit it with RGS to keep the roots moving. thelawncarenut.com/collections/granular-fertilizer/products/24-0-6-flagship-with-3-iron-and-bio-nite%E2%84%A2 thelawncarenut.com/collections/n-ext/products/rgs-root-growth-liquid-biostimulant#

[@laurasanders6623]

What makes you reject a sod pallet? What do you look for? Haha be maybe go to big box stores and show bad stuff haha.

[@Thelawncarenut]

In this case, the sod was completely dried out an there was almost so soil attached. With no soil attached there is nothing to retain moisture and the sod dries out and there is no way to get it back hydrated. Sod needs to come with at least 2" of soil attached.

[@matthewmorin7016]

Home Depot sells that cutting tool.

[@TheSoloAsylum]

I'm currently waiting on Feb for Zoysia to come back in stock. I'm currently the worst lawn on the street so I have to hide my face when I drive in and out.

[@indebt745]

So in West KY, it would benefit my dormant Zoysia by still watering? First I've heard about watering through winter. I'm usually getting ready to winterize them about now. Looks like i need to research about watering through the winter.

[@flch95]

I’m too scared to do the sprinkler maintenance. Lol. Might break the line underneath. So far I’ve gotten away with not having to do it.

[@Thelawncarenut]

Even if you break a line, it is very easy to fix. Keep in mind the lines are not under pressure if the zone isn't running so if you hit a line it's no big deal. I will do some more sprinkler stuff to show you because it's important for you to learn to do it on your own.

[@flch95]

@@Thelawncarenut thanks!!

[@briman1968]

Thanks for the head change info. I feel much more comfortable try that now that I seem what to expect. (I hope they all are like what you showed) Thanks again!

[@Thelawncarenut]

be ready for all kinds of crazy configurations, especially if you have an old system that previous owners have messed with. It's all part of the fun and once you learn how your system is put together, you'll be a pro in not time.

[@benharrison1069]

Allyn, two questions. 1) Why did you choose sand to fill in around your raised sprinkler head with sand rather than using dirt? 2) With your replacement riser on your sprinkler head, it looked like it would not recess far enough back into the ground so that your lawn mower blades could/would damage the sprinkler head. Is that what happened? Thanks for another great video, Allyn.

[@Thelawncarenut]

hey bro - I like sand because it packs in nice and firm around the head. We have mostly sandy soil here anyway. As far as the height, it's just the way it looks in the video - it's plenty low to mow over and it will also sink another inch or so once the irrigation runs and water pulls it down. I always set them a little high knowing they will settle in a couple days

[@Kimberleighkole]

❤ watching you’ve been such a huge help! How long should I wait to use RGS after a blindside treatment on St.Aug in south east FL ? Thanks, Kim

[@barbre105]

You can apply RGS at any time.

[@Thelawncarenut]

as mentioned, you can srpray RGS anytime - it will not interfere with the blindside but keep in mind, RGS needs to be watered in and Blindeside needs to sit for a couple days and soak into the weeds.

[@julios1968]

Only Bahia in my area.

[@scottsmith5048]

What regions of Florida are currently affected by Sugar Cane Mosaic? I'm down in in the Port Charolette area and need to sod a few sections of the yard. Have you done a video concerning Sugar Cane Mosaic and how to identify it? Great videos, keep them coming!

[@Thelawncarenut]

it's mostly on the East Coast around Ft Lauderdale but there is some over here on the West Coast in Tierra Verde. I have not done a video because I don't know much about it but will probably try and have on an expert to talk about it on the podcast next season.

[@scottsmith5048]

@@Thelawncarenut Thanks for the update. I'll keep an eye out for it, down here in SWFL. We were hit fairly hard with Rhizoctonia solani during the "dry" hot and humid rainy season and have finally just got that under control.

[@soupysperformance]

Trench shovel

[@Glamorouspythons]

What can you do if you have a huge yard around 14,000sf and your irrigation is off a well pump and it will run dry by the start of dry season next year !I do have city water and sewer as well but the irrigation is off of a well !Tried the sprinkler thing to with a hose but with such a big yard it's not cutting it

[@Pilotman28]

I bought a tool which goes around just the head. I do not have donuts around my heads.

[@robertm5891]

What is called

[@artieartya]

So I threw down pre-emergent on my Saint Augustine a few weeks ago should I do another throwdown application this month or next month up in northern Florida here thank you.

[@Thelawncarenut]

if you are still mowing at least every 7-10 days you can apply Stress Blend. But you should not need anymore pre-emergent.

[@adeptsol2348]

Hey Allen, I'm looking for the link to the Palmetto plugs you mentioned in one of your posts

[@Thelawncarenut]

here you go: trysodpods.com/products/palmetto-st-augustine-grass-plugs

[@LunkersLoot]

Allyn! Where can I get that Florida Trucker's Cap!? It look like it has that ventilated material all the way around and not just in the back, no? 🤘😎💯

[@Thelawncarenut]

I got it at a great restaurant in Brooksville called Florida Cracker Kitchen. The mesh on the front is not see through though - I know it looked that way but it's not - it has a solid back.

[@sebbby46]

Those sprinkler heads can be removed and replaced without digging all the way down as long as your replacement is the same diameter. Just dig down enough so you can grab it with your hand, pour water around the sprinkler, wiggle it gently in all directions and unscrew without hitting the soil sides. You can lift it out and screw in the new sprinkler. Saves a lot of time.....

[@TheGav0071]

Sod farms are supposed to cut the sod the same day as they deliver it. I guess November SA grass isn't the best. I'd wait until April or May. Also why didn't you prepare the ground for the sod? Was that cost included? I did it myself when I had zoysia delivered and laid. That way I was in control of how the ground was prepared properly and I knew that grub-x was applied as an extra.

[@Thelawncarenut]

I was ready to prep the ground once the sod was delivered - I'm glad I didn't though since the sod was bad

[@bamllamaable]

For your area, what's the latest in the year you would put sod down or can Florida sod all year long with good results?

[@Thelawncarenut]

it can go all year long but if you have the choice it's better to wait until March in my area

[@curbappeallawncarellc4263]

what do you think about the pro vista variety?

[@Thelawncarenut]

It's awesome! But it is not a good replacement if you have dealt with Sugar Cane Mosaic virus. It isn't resistant like Palmetto or CitraBlue

[@zz9126]

Dang....im truly bummed...just moved from South TX (Houston) and a St Aug lawn to Myrtle Beach and a centipede lawn. Different area, different animal. Been following you for years, got the annual care guides, etc... Can you video help with a new centipede lawn(October '23)

[@Thelawncarenut]

it's probably about to go dormant now so just keep the soil moist during winter , don't let it dry out. In spring you can use Stress Blend and in Summer a couple apps of Flagship. It's similar to St Aug but just likes a little less nitrogen.

[@GamerGee]

7:10 things that don’t happen with citra blue. LOL. That stuff is special order at most farms but floratam sone will try to hustle you old sod LOL

[@redgar6467]

Thanks Allyn. I need a few risers myself. Why did you not use the spinning thing on the trimmer to keep the donuts trim through the summer?

[@Thelawncarenut]

I got lazy and I got rid of the spinning trimmer head anyway. It wasn't practical for me.

[@mikeanzalone9055]

Allyn do you know when Pro Vista is coming to NC? Their site just says coming soon. Thought maybe you had estimated date? Thx.

[@Thelawncarenut]

I doubt it will ever get to NC for St Augustine. They just got into Texas and that is going to take a few years to fully saturate.

[@DK85]

Good video. You need to decrease your fiber optic consumption! 😅

[@jrob3158]

Hey AL I’m 20 mins north of Jax in coastal GA. Would you recommend following the FL ebook?

[@Thelawncarenut]

sure, it can help you out for sure!

[@calebevans8437]

Cant wait for you to get a harley your starting to look abit like clay morrow from Sons of Anarchy😂😂

[@Thelawncarenut]

I'll take that as a complement 😂 although he is much taller than me so I may need a pit bike.

[@williamfernandez5170]

Im in Boca, do you have any local vendors you can recommend? thanks.

[@jaybutler9797]

What is that patch in the front of your house? I think that was the area that you had worms in the past and re-soded..

[@Thelawncarenut]

Yes that is the spot, but this time it's from this kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWTYmWV5bbN3lZIsi=brD2m41P8GYSquGH

[@SingleStacked]

Central FL here. Due to heat I neglected getting out and spraying Bio-Stims this summer. Would it be a waste to apply it over winter? Should I just wait for next summer?

[@Thelawncarenut]

the good news in Florida is our soil doesn't freeze so bio-stims are great year round. Even now you should still be mowing at least every 7 days or so so the lawn isn't dormant. I recommend Air8 and Humic12 for the most part during winter.

[@TrackOfAllJades]

Are you gonna take some plugs from elsewhere to get that area going again?

[@Thelawncarenut]

you'll see next week! 😀

[@loriwise3177]

What brand and kind of irrigation heads do you use?

[@Thelawncarenut]

I have some 3/4" Toro heads that I really like. Toro T5 Rapidset is what they are called - they have a 5" popup.

[@ShooterReadyStandBy]

What happened to the donut cutter for the weed whip? Doesn't fit the Ego?

[@Thelawncarenut]

It's just not practical. The hand tool is quicker and easier.

[@MrAwesome3O5]

what kind of weed is that around the sprinkler head at this time stamp 6:27 ? I have the same type

[@Thelawncarenut]

I have no idea but I'm going to spray it with weed control and I'll show you what I use and if it dies.

[@rickkrieger4455]

I don't have dirt all we have is sand and most of our grass is not grass it is weeds.

[@Thelawncarenut]

In Florida we all have sand for soil so that is normal - but if you only have weeds then your best alternative is to re-sod.

[@xr1supra85ba]

I thought it was 1/2” water per cycle. If you’re doing 1 1/2” a week and can only water 2 times a week because of restrictions then you’re looking at 3/4” each time. With the way Florida soil is, isn’t that going to be counterproductive?

[@Thelawncarenut]

you gotta do the best you can to work within the rules of your county. And 3/4" twice per week is much better than nothing. Most of the lawns in my neighborhood are browning out because people are not even running their irrigation at all.

[@toddfromflorida]

MAN, why would you stick with 4 inch rise sprinkler bodies???? (At least thats what it looks like in the video) I have converted every one in my yard except maybe one or two to 6 inch rise bodies, whether they be misters or rotors. The St Aug is just too thick and lush to keep them at only 4 inch rise.

[@MyGuyKirby]

Truck driver was not happy for you to decline the sod....

[@travels3577]

My neighbor accepted a bad batch of sod It did not take

[@Thelawncarenut]

He was pretty cool about it. I don't think he really cared one way or the other.

[@martinhughes9411]

So you said 100% a water issue for your lawn because you know what treatments you put down on your lawn every year. The people in the groups never mention what they have done and the first thing they should consider is insect damage when they know they water correctly.

[@Thelawncarenut]

With insects, you can find them. It's the easiest problem to ID and confirm. Grubs, sod webworm, chinch - all can be found with little effort. It's not a good idea to correct brown spots with insect control unless you find the insects to ID them first.

[@user-jg6xh9sf9d]

Is Pro Vista resistant to Sugar cane mosaic?

[@Thelawncarenut]

sadly, no. It's a GMO based on Floratam so it has the same vulnerabilities.

[@user-jg6xh9sf9d]

@@Thelawncarenut Thanks Allyn, my neighbor, a good friend, and also a LCN customer, has lost his lawn to this disease and I want to make sure he gets the right sod when he decides to replace his lawn. I wanted to try the Pro Vista but I won't and after finding out it is not resistant. Thanks for the reply.

[@Thelawncarenut]

@@user-jg6xh9sf9d for sure Citra Blue is the way to go. It's very dark green too. beautiful grass

[@jamiemittermuller6470]

Completely out of the blue(while I was watching the domination line) why don’t you leave the grass next to your neighbour longer than the rest of your lawn and blend it with the normal cut height, you said the uncut man dominates! Your grass is ridiculous pretty sure you’ve only just cut the donut out for your lawn at the start of the year (it compromise for permanent warm weather). A transplant trowel (hand spade) might help clear out for the sprinkler donuts.

[@ayy1n]

First

[@Thelawncarenut]

confirmed!

[@Banzai51]

@@Thelawncarenut Third!

[@WhittyPics]

I bet you eat a lot of tuna at your house?

[@Thelawncarenut]

yes I do! have to have my mercury levels test often ha ha!

[@mkzenthusiasts]

I had to start over six times cuz every time I made a comment it got dirty for some reason he said well first off your arm was super deep into your lawn like to the elbow or the shoulder oh man the boys in St Pete sure it could help you out there with your sprinkler system oh man I need to behave or you're going to get mad

[@joeking6309]

1800callbeforeyoudig 😉