Bonita Springs • Lee County
Sod Installation in Bonita Springs, FL
When a Bonita Springs lawn has to be replaced after standing water or a dry spring, the grass choice matters more than the install day. UF/IFAS describes Floratam, the St. Augustinegrass most builders lay, as poor in shade, so a lawn under mature oaks in an older neighborhood often needs a more shade-tolerant cultivar or a planted bed instead. Hodges strips the old turf, regrades so water moves toward the swale, and lays new sod tight with staggered seams. Two local rules affect the months after. The city's irrigation ordinance gives new lawns a 90-day establishment window with extra watering days. And the summer fertilizer restriction under City Code Chapter 44 means a lawn laid in June waits until fall for nitrogen. Anyone fertilizing professionally in the city must hold Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices certification and register annually with Neighborhood Services.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Bonita Springs
Worthington
Spanish Wells
Bonita Bay
Plants and materials that suit it in Bonita Springs
Questions
Is Floratam right for a shady Bonita Springs yard?
Usually not. UF/IFAS rates Floratam's shade tolerance as poor compared with other St. Augustinegrass cultivars. Under heavy shade, consider a shade-tolerant St. Augustine cultivar, zoysiagrass, or replacing turf with groundcovers like perennial peanut where there is some sun.
Can new sod be fertilized right away in summer?
Bonita Springs restricts nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer during its summer rainy-season period. Sod laid then can be watered in under the establishment schedule and fed once the restricted period ends. Confirm current dates with the city.
Does the person fertilizing my lawn need a city registration?
Yes for professionals. The city requires professional and institutional landscapers to complete Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices training, register each year with the Neighborhood Services Department, and display a current decal.