What yard care is required in the first month?

[Paulz]

We are closing in Collier on 8/19 and moving down late September. Is there anything outside on basic mowing that is required in the first 4-5 weeks? Also, is mowing weekly durning this time of year?

[kittygilchrist]

welcome to TV...!
must do: get donuts for the sprinkler heads and have the grass cut around them. otherwise the grass grows over the heads and they are extremely hard if not impossible to find.
assuming you will be here to close make sure your irrigation system is set up appropriately by contacting either home warranty ofc or your landscaper, who will do a walk around, adjust sprinkler heads and show you how the irrigation works.
my opinion is every 2 weeks will do for mowing.

I recommend Stellar for lawn service and a neighbor to check on the yard to report any issues to you.

[redwitch]

During the summer, you need to cut weekly (weather permitting), about 3 inches high; winter is biweekly. Donuts are definitely a good idea.

If you're going to be a snowbird, Stellar may not be the way to go. They're really good for us frogs, but seem to be hit or miss if you're not home. That, plus having to pay in advance for services always puts me off. Check with your neighbors and see who they have. It's always best if a cutter takes care of several homes on the same street.

Do not rely on neighbors to watch your home or yard -- if something goes wrong, your insurance company will go after them to pay for damages if it was more than a casual check by neighbors/friends/families or hold you entirely responsible for not being duly diligent in having your home checked weekly.

[mulligan]

Most important...water your lawn daily for the first month.

[asianthree]

lawn needs to be feed oursin november when we closed looked like it was dead within 6 weeks had deans come in at two months took a month to come back

[jimbo2012]

plus having to pay in advance for services always puts me off.

Yes that is a very strange way of doing business, can you name other services that DEMAND payment in advance?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I have to mow at least weekly. I fertilized this spring and it's gotten to where I need to mow about every 5 days now.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Yes that is a very strange way of doing business, can you name other services that DEMAND payment in advance?

Colleges.

[asianthree]

deans bills as services are done..even mow

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Yes that is a very strange way of doing business, can you name other services that DEMAND payment in advance?

Colleges, cable, internet service, The Villages Amenities, I used to pay for my son's guitar lessons a month in advance. I don't think it's so unusual for services that are repeated on a regular basis.

[batman911]

During the summer, you need to cut weekly (weather permitting), about 3 inches high; winter is biweekly. Donuts are definitely a good idea.

If you're going to be a snowbird, Stellar may not be the way to go. They're really good for us frogs, but seem to be hit or miss if you're not home. That, plus having to pay in advance for services always puts me off. Check with your neighbors and see who they have. It's always best if a cutter takes care of several homes on the same street.

Do not rely on neighbors to watch your home or yard -- if something goes wrong, your insurance company will go after them to pay for damages if it was more than a casual check by neighbors/friends/families or hold you entirely responsible for not being duly diligent in having your home checked weekly.

I do not believe Stellar requires advance payment. You can pay them monthly but will not receive the 2 month bonus unless you pay for a full year.

[Barefoot]

Yes that is a very strange way of doing business, can you name other services that DEMAND payment in advance?

Where did you get the idea that Stellar DEMANDS payment in advance?

[Markam]

If your lawn is in good condition at the time of closing, weekly mowing is about all you need for at least 5 weeks.

Even though we have been having plenty of rain lately, the advice to make sure your irrigation system is working is sound. It probably has a feature that will not allow it to activate if there has been recent rain.

I second the motion to eventually install 'donuts' around your sprinkler heads. They are available at Home Depot and Lowes. It isn't anything that has to be done in the first 5 weeks.

If you are not going to be here full time (AKA: "frog") you will need a service to mow and chemically treat your lawn anyway. I cut my own grass but use Stellar for chemical treatment and found them to be OK, although I do have to call them for problems once in a while. They are responsive, courteous and fairly knowledgeable. My lawn is better than most in the neighborhood. Their number is 352-553-2597. They just might cut your lawn on a week-to-week basis until you move in - or know someone who will.

Cheers

[jimbo2012]

Where did you get the idea that Stellar DEMANDS payment in advance?

here!


Jimbo2012,

I would be happy to shed some light on this ongoing issue of customers paying in advance. Let's step back and look at this situation from the perspective of a business. So many companies make the mistake of billing monthly; they work hard all summer, sweat for all the residents, endure the heat of the summer for 6 to 8 months...
Marty Rouse/ Owner

[CFrance]

Colleges, cable, internet service, The Villages Amenities, I used to pay for my son's guitar lessons a month in advance. I don't think it's so unusual for services that are repeated on a regular basis.

Snow plowing. (Thank Gawd that's over & done with.) We had to pay for our Coolaroos installation in advance.

[Barefoot]

here!

Thanks Jimbo. I didn't mean to question you. I had just thought Stellar offered two payment options; to pay monthly, or to pay in advance and get a "reward" of two months free. Thanks for the clarification.

[gmcneill]

From the UF/IFAS website for Empire Zoysia turf in Central Florida:

Sodded areas should be watered at least twice per day with ¼ inch of water until the sod is held fast to the soil by new roots (usually 2–3 weeks), after which watering should be reduced to an as-needed basis.

Irrigating on an "as-needed" basis is the best way to water any established, mature grass as long as the proper amount of water is applied when needed. Irrigation is needed when leaf blades begin to fold up, wilt, or turn a blue-gray color, or when footprints remain visible after walking on the grass. Apply ½–¾ inch of water per application. This applies water to roughly the top 8 inches of soil, where the majority of the roots are.
--(Once the turf is established, the best time to water is between 2am-7am)--

Medium- to coarse-textured zoysiagrasses should be mowed weekly, or when they reach a height of 3–4 inches. They should be mowed at a height of 2–2.5 inches with a rotary mower.

As a general rule, the first fertilizer application of the year should be early April in Central Florida. Since zoysia grass is very slow to green-up in the spring, avoid applying fertilizer until after the turf has become fully green to avoid premature green-up, which is prone to frost injury. This is especially important in North Florida, where late spring frosts may damage the grass. Delaying spring fertilization until the turf is actively growing and can use the fertilizer also reduces the potential for nitrogen leaching from fertilizer. Likewise, don't fertilize too late in the year, as this can slow regrowth the following spring. An application of iron can enhance spring green-up. Applying nitrogen on zoysia grass in early spring and late fall significantly increases the risk of large (brown) patch disease.
--
Use fertilizer that is 15-0-15 or 16-0-8 and has at least a 15-30% slow release, water insoluble nitrogen. Too much nitrogen (the first number in the above set of three numbers results in a variety of potential problems! Three to four applications per season should be enough. Avoid using weed/feed type of fertilizers.

[Paulz]

Thanks everyone. I have a feeling that TOTV is the best guide to transtioning into our village life.

[Phanatic Luvr]

I have read here comments from some posters that you need to cut your grass weekly or even one about every 5 days. I believe the original poster has zoysia grass. I have zoysia and cut every two weeks and in the winter, if I cut every 4 to 6 weeks, thats a lot. Some people commenting may have St. Augustine grass in the northern sections of TV's which does require more frequent cutting.

[CFrance]

I have read here comments from some posters that you need to cut your grass weekly or even one about every 5 days. I believe the original poster has zoysia grass. I have zoysia and cut every two weeks and in the winter, if I cut every 4 to 6 weeks, thats a lot. Some people commenting may have St. Augustine grass in the northern sectlions of TV's which does require more frequent cutting.

I agree with Phanatic Lovr (although I am other side-of-the-state Pirates fan!) In the winter our zoysia gets cut once a month whether it needs it or not, which I think it could go longer. In the summer it's once a week. It's kept at 3" height and does well. When we used to go to MI for the summer, we kept a twice-a-week watering of 30 minutes, set to 1:00 a.m.