Drained sawgrass country

Hydroseeding in Fruitville, FL

Lawns, swales and stormwater edges on ground that was once a sawgrass swamp.

We measure the ground before we put a number on paper
Seed mix and fertilizer timed to Sarasota County's summer rules
Sediment barriers set before clearing near ponds, canals and swales

Seeding a Drained Swamp

Hydroseeding in Fruitville means working on ground that used to be under water. Much of the area was a large sawgrass swamp, bounded by Tatum Ridge on the east and Phillippi Creek on the north and west, where wild Florida Cracker cattle grazed. In 1923 the Sarasota-Fruitville drainage district dredged a canal to Phillippi Creek, draining about 26,000 acres and opening around 8,000 acres for farming.

Muck, sand and water tables

Former swamp soil can be very different from the sand most people expect in Sarasota County. Pockets with dark organic soil hold water and settle; sandy areas between them drain fast. Before a new lawn, we probe the lot to find which soil sits where, level settled spots with topsoil, and grade so water leaves the yard instead of sitting where the swamp used to be.

Celery, then stormwater

Celery was a major crop on the drained land. Part of that farmland was later turned back into wetland and became the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility. That history explains why drainage here is taken seriously. Construction sites near ditches, canals and stormwater ponds need silt fence and inlet protection, and pond banks need permanent cover.

Headwaters of Phillippi Creek

Phillippi Creek starts in this part of the county and runs to Roberts Bay. It was dredged and dammed in the 1880s and 1960s, and channelized water moves fast down it. Sediment from bare lots up here ends up in the creek the county is now dredging, which is a good reason to stabilize soil quickly.

What we do in Fruitville

Hydroseed lawns on new homes and lot splits
Retention pond bank seeding and blankets
Silt fence and inlet protection for builders
Regrading low, settled yards before seeding

Get a free estimate or call (941) 241-2677.

Fruitville Land History

Sawgrass swamp. Fruitville had a large sawgrass swamp bounded by Tatum Ridge on the east and Phillippi Creek on the north and west.
1923 drainage district. A canal dredged to Phillippi Creek drained roughly 26,000 acres and provided about 8,000 acres of farmland.
Celery Fields. Former celery farmland was reclaimed as wetland and became the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility.
Creek headwaters. Phillippi Creek flows from the Fruitville area to Roberts Bay and was dredged and dammed in the 1880s and 1960s.

Dirt Work & Yard Grading in Sarasota, FL

Our Services in Fruitville, FL

Fruitville Questions

Parts of my yard keep sinking. Why?

Organic soil left from the old swamp can settle as it dries. We fill and level those spots with topsoil before seeding.

Do you seed near the Celery Fields stormwater area?

We work on private lots nearby. Public stormwater land is managed by the county.

Why does the county care about sediment from my lot?

Runoff from here flows to Phillippi Creek, which is being dredged to remove sediment. Silt fence and fast seeding keep your sand out of it.

Can you regrade a yard that holds water?

Yes. Our crews do yard grading and can trench for drainage before we hydroseed.

Free Estimates in Fruitville, FL

Free estimates across Fruitville and east Sarasota.

Call (941) 241-2677 Free Estimate