A. J. Lindsey

0000-0002-8566-9453

Preparing to Plant a Florida Lawn

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

La Grama Zoysia para Patios de Florida

Laurie E. Trenholm, J. Bryan Unruh, Marco Schiavon, A. J. Lindsey, Kevin E. Kenworthy, Laurie Trenholm, andAndrea Fernanda Arevalo Albarenga

La grama zoysia se introdujo en los Estados Unidos desde Asia y proporciona un césped atractivo en gran parte de los Estados Unidos. En los últimos años han ingresado al mercado nuevos cultivares de grama zoysia con mejor resistencia a insectos, establecimiento acelerado y mejor rendimiento en general. Escrito por J. Bryan Unruh, Marco Schiavon, Alex J. Lindsey, Kevin E. Kenworthy, L. E. Trenholm, y A. Fernanda Arévalo Alvarenga, y publicado por el UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture, julio 2022.

Autonomous or Robotic Mower Use on Florida Lawns

Jaspal Singh, P. Agustin Boeri, J. Bryan Unruh, andA. J. Lindsey

Mowing is one of the most important cultural practices for the maintenance of a healthy lawn. This publication serves as a practical guide for homeowners and lawn care professionals, providing information on effectively implementing autonomous and robotic mowing technologies on lawns. Proper mowing height and intervals increase turfgrass density, leading to a healthier turf that is more competitive against weeds, diseases, and insects. Traditional mowing is generally performed with a gasoline engine or corded electric-powered lawn mowers. More recently, the use of battery-powered lawn mowers is increasing. Similarly, autonomous or “robotic” mowers have been gaining popularity for their various benefits.

Selecting a Turfgrass for Florida Lawns

A. J. Lindsey, Marco Schiavon, John L. Cisar, J. Bryan Unruh, andKevin E. Kenworthy

The lawn is an integral part of the landscape and provides many important benefits in our increasingly urbanized environment. A lawn not only elevates the land's aesthetic and economic value, but it also creates a recreational surface, controls erosion, filters pollutants, supplies oxygen, and decreases temperatures in urban settings. This publication is intended for Florida homeowners, landscape maintenance professionals, builders and developers, and Extension agents to help select the best turfgrass species for their situation. Florida turfgrasses vary widely in their adaptive abilities, so choose your turfgrass species wisely. This publication provides information and guidelines to assist in your selection.

Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn

A. J. Lindsey, Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, Laurie E. Trenholm, andLaurie Trenholm

A healthy lawn is an important component of an urban landscape. Not only do lawns increase the value of a property, but they also reduce soil erosion, filter stormwater runoff, cool the air, and reduce glare and noise. A healthy lawn effectively filters and traps sediment and pollutants that could otherwise contaminate surface waters and groundwater. This publication is intended for those who maintain their own lawn and landscapes.

Bahiagrass for Florida Lawns

Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, Kevin E. Kenworthy, John L. Cisar, Laurie Trenholm, andTravis W. Shaddox
Other Contacts: A. J. Lindsey

Bahiagrass was introduced from Brazil in 1914. It was originally used as a pasture grass on the sandy soils of the southeastern United States. Additional varieties have been introduced since that time for use as lawn grasses. Bahiagrass is a low-maintenance lawn grass that does well with limited water and fertilizer inputs. Varieties currently available do not produce a carpet-like, dense lawn like some other warm-season lawn grasses. This publication is intended for homeowners and turfgrass managers that manage bahiagrass in the state of Florida.

Growing Turfgrass in the Shade

A. J. Lindsey, J. Bryan Unruh, Kevin E. Kenworthy, andMarco Schiavon

Many landscapes have shaded areas that can drastically affect turfgrass growth depending on the duration and intensity of shade. The amount of shade present in a landscape varies over time as trees mature and seasons change. Portions of a lawn may have full sun, be heavily shaded throughout the day, or receive partial shade and sunlight. Many partially shaded landscapes provide enough sunlight to support healthy turfgrass; however, constant or heavy shade makes it difficult to maintain adequate turf quality. The amount of sunlight needed by lawn grasses varies by species and, in some cases, by cultivar within species. In areas that receive moderate amounts of shade, certain species and cultivars of grass persist, while other, less shade-tolerant species and cultivars rapidly decline. In these areas, choosing the right turfgrass species and cultivar is important. It is also important to follow specific management practices that can encourage better turfgrass performance in shade.

Centipedegrass for Florida Lawns

J. Bryan Unruh, A. J. Lindsey, andMarco 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.

Florida Turfgrass Identification

A. J. Lindsey, Claude J. Jean, Marco Schiavon, Kevin E. Kenworthy, andJ. Bryan Unruh

Proper turfgrass identification is required before considering any lawn maintenance practices. Each of the different grasses used for Florida lawns have different management and without accurate identification, mismanagement could occur, leading to undesirable results. Turfgrass identification can be challenging due to the lack of inflorescence or seedheads at certain times in their life cycle or due to being mowed off. Thus, other plant characteristics are used to help with turfgrass identification.

Establishing Your Florida Lawn

A. J. Lindsey, Marco Schiavon, andJ. Bryan Unruh

This publication is intended for Florida homeowners and landscape maintenance professionals to help them successfully establish lawns. The two primary methods of establishing turfgrass are seed and vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation includes sodding, sprigging, and plugging. Although propagating vegetatively is labor-intensive, all warm-season grasses can be planted by this method. Seeding is usually the easiest and most economical method of planting grasses. However, not all warm-season grasses can establish from seed, and seed establishment requires a longer period to have complete grass cover.

Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns

Laurie E. Trenholm, J. Bryan Unruh, Marco Schiavon, A. J. Lindsey, Kevin E. Kenworthy, Laurie Trenholm, andJohn L. Cisar

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.

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.

Bermudagrass for Florida Lawns

Laurie E. Trenholm, Travis W. Shaddox, Laurie Trenholm, Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, andTravis W. Shaddox
Other Contacts: A. J. Lindsey

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.

St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns

Laurie E. Trenholm, Travis W. Shaddox, Laurie Trenholm, Marco Schiavon, J. Bryan Unruh, Travis W. Shaddox, andKevin E. Kenworthy
Other Contacts: Henrique Mayer andA. J. Lindsey

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.

Florida Sod Inventory and Pricing Report—2025

A. J. Lindsey, Natasha Restuccia, J. Bryan Unruh, andKevin E. Kenworthy

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Turfgrass Producers of Florida conducted their first sod inventory and pricing survey. The purpose of the survey was to determine the sod inventory levels, prices, and markets for Florida. This publication is intended for sod producers and end users to evaluate sod production and availability in Florida.

Promoting Turf Recovery Following a Hurricane

J. Bryan Unruh, A. J. Lindsey, Marco Schiavon, Laurie E. Trenholm, andLaurie 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.

Fertilization and Irrigation Needs for Florida Lawns and Landscapes

R. Klein, A.J. Lindsey, M. McMillan, J. B. Unruh, and M.D. Dukes

Florida Friendly Landscaping™ Best Management Practices (BMPs) for management of commercial and residential lawns and landscapes were developed by scientists with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). These BMPs assist homeowners and professionals in making management choices that will help sustain lawns and landscapes in Florida without impairing Florida’s water resources.