Between the Gulf and Sarasota Bay

Hydroseeding in Longboat Key, FL

Lawn seeding and careful sediment control on a narrow island split between two counties.

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

Grass on a Barrier Island

Hydroseeding in Longboat Key is shaped by how little land there is. The town covers 16 square miles on paper, but only about 4.1 square miles is land; the rest, roughly 74 percent, is water. The island runs between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay and is split almost evenly between Manatee and Sarasota counties. Every yard here is close to salt water on at least one side.

Island sand and salt

Barrier island soil is mostly clean sand. It drains fast, holds few nutrients and gets salt spray. For a hydroseed lawn here we pick salt-tolerant seed, add organic matter where we can, and use a fiber mulch that holds moisture while the seed takes. A watering plan is not optional on island sand.

Hurricanes and rebuilding

A hurricane in the mid-1800s destroyed most of the key, so little is known about the island between 1848 and the 1880s. Storms still reshape lots here. When a home is rebuilt or remodeled, the yard is usually torn up by equipment, and we come in after final grade to restore it.

Built in stages

The key was developed in pieces: small subdivisions in the 1910s, a planned Ritz-Carlton and golf course in the 1920s, and a large purchase by the Arvida Corporation in 1959 that took in the southern half of the island. Today the southern end is mostly the Longboat Key Club. Older lots and newer resort-style landscaping sit side by side, and a lot of our work is renovation rather than first-time seeding.

Keeping sand out of the bay

With water this close, silt fence or wattles along the low side of any disturbed lot keep sand from reaching the bay or Gulf. We spray away from seawalls and docks, and on bayside slopes we use erosion control blankets.

Longboat Key requests

Lawn renovation after remodeling or rebuilding
Salt-tolerant hydroseed lawns
Sediment control on construction near the water
Overseeding thin island lawns

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

Longboat Key Facts

Mostly water. The town's total area is 16 square miles, of which 4.1 square miles is land and about 74 percent is water.
Two counties. Longboat Key is almost equally divided between Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Early hurricane. A hurricane in the mid-1800s destroyed most of Longboat Key, leaving a gap in its history until the 1880s.
Arvida purchase. In 1959 the Arvida Corporation bought 2,000 acres including the southern half of the key.

Lawn Renovation & Reseeding in Sarasota, FL

Our Services in Longboat Key, FL

Longboat Key Questions

Which grass seed handles salt spray on Longboat Key?

Some warm-season grasses tolerate salt much better than others. We choose from those and match what your association allows.

How often will a new hydroseed lawn need water on the island?

Short, frequent waterings through about the first two weeks, then fewer as the grass roots. Island sand dries out quickly.

Can you work around a pool deck and seawall without overspray?

Yes. We mask or shield hard surfaces and spray at a low angle near edges.

Do you work on both the Manatee and Sarasota ends of the key?

Yes, the full length of the island.

Free Estimates in Longboat Key, FL

Free estimates on both the Manatee and Sarasota ends of Longboat Key.

Call (941) 241-2677 Free Estimate