Author: Wendy Holtz

Trying your best to maintain a healthy, green lawn? Aeration is a crucial step you shouldn’t skip. Aeration is the process of creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and fertilizer to penetrate deeper into the roots of your grass. So, why is this step so important? Here are the top benefits of lawn aeration in Florida.

Relieves Soil Compaction

One of the main benefits of this process is that it helps to reduce soil compaction. Over time, foot traffic, mowing, and even normal rainfall can put a great deal of pressure on your lawn’s soil, causing it to become compacted and hardened. All this pressure can make it hard for air, water, and nutrients to penetrate and reach the roots of your grass, which can lead to a dull, unhealthy-looking lawn.

With lawn aeration, small holes are punched into the soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to flow freely. This can help to improve the overall health of your lawn and give it a more vibrant appearance.

Learn More: Benefits of Lawn Aeration

Promotes Healthy Root Growth

Lawn aeration aids in healthy, resilient root growth by allowing water, air, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the soil, where the grass roots reside. Aeration creates favorable conditions for the roots to grow stronger, deeper, and more extensive, and stronger roots mean a healthier lawn that can withstand stress, drought, and other environmental challenges. Extensive root systems can also reduce soil compaction, prevent erosion, and help your turf absorb more nutrients and water, resulting in a greener and thicker lawn.

Reduces Thatch

Thatch is a layer of dead plant material that accumulates between the soil surface and living vegetation. While some amount of thatch is natural and beneficial, too much can be harmful. It restricts the flow of water, air, and nutrients to the roots of your grass. Too much thatch can also attract pests like chinch bugs, which can quickly escalate into a full-blown infestation. With proper aeration, the roots of your grass are given room to grow deeper and stronger, resulting in a more resilient lawn that is less susceptible to disease and pests.

Reduces Runoff

It’s no secret that rains are common in Florida during your lawn’s prime growing season. When soil is compacted, water has a harder time penetrating and instead, it ends up pooling on top. This not only creates a muddy mess, but can also attract insects and diseases that thrive in damp environments. Aeration helps by creating small holes in the soil that allow water to seep deeper and more evenly throughout your lawn. By preventing runoff, your grass can absorb more nutrients and moisture, so you can avoid a soggy lawn and the problems that come with it.

Learn More: Our Top Lawn Care Tips for Your Florida Home

Let Your Lawn Breathe With Professional Aeration

If you want a healthy, lush, green lawn, then you can’t skip lawn aeration. And when it comes to aeration, Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Leesburg is the only name to call. Our core aeration services help your lawn breathe, so it’s primed for healthy, long-term growth. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 to schedule service!

Living in Florida comes with its own set of challenges, one of which is dealing with pesky insects all year round. However, out of all the pests, mosquitoes are the most troubling ones. These tiny bugs carry potentially deadly diseases, which means they are not only a nuisance, but they can also pose a serious health risk. Luckily, there’s a natural predator that feasts on these harmful insects—the dragonfly.

Not only are majestic dragonflies beautiful creatures to watch with their intricate wings and vibrant colors, but they’re also natural predators of mosquitoes. So, can dragonflies help with pest control? Yes! Read on to find out how.

Dragonflies Are Natural Predators of Mosquitoes

While the graceful dragonfly may be a staple of picturesque scenery, they’re also skilled predators. These insects are natural enemies to pesky mosquitoes—they swoop in and snatch these bloodsuckers out of the air with ease, using lightning-fast reflexes and sharp vision to track their prey. Not only are they effective at controlling the mosquito population, but they also add an extra level of beauty to our outdoor surroundings.

Why is it so important to keep mosquito populations low in your own yard? Aside from giving you and your family some irritating, itchy bites, they carry serious, life-threatening diseases including:

• Dengue fever
• Malaria
• Yellow fever
• West Nile virus
• Zika virus

Learn More: How Can I Prepare for Mosquito Season Before May?

How to Attract Dragonflies for Mosquito Control

If you want to keep your family safe and enjoy a mosquito-free yard, attracting dragonflies can help. Some ways to encourage dragonflies to visit your yard include:

• Add a Water Feature. During their larval stage, dragonflies are aquatic—they need water to lay eggs and reproduce. By providing a source of water like a small pond, you can attract dragonflies to your yard. Ideally, they like an aquatic environment at least two feet deep with plenty of plants—but make sure to keep the water circulating to prevent mosquitoes from laying their own eggs.

• Grow the Right Plants. The colorful dragonfly is attracted to plants with colorful blooms, as well as leaves and stems that serve as perches. Some good plants to install in your yard include the black-eyed Susan, borage, meadow sage, and yarrow. It’s best to plant them near water features to create a mini dragonfly-friendly ecosystem.

• Create Shelter. Don’t forget that while dragonflies are natural predators, there are predators that are on the lookout for them, too. Add tall grasses and shrubs to give dragonflies some shelter to hide from their predators.

Learn More: How Can I Control Mosquitoes During an Outdoor Event?

Keep Your Yard Mosquito-Free This Summer

If you’re like most Florida homeowners, you enjoy and appreciate our state’s unique ecosystem. While you’ll find mosquitoes throughout the state, natural predators like the dragonfly can help keep these populations low, and you can get even better results when you partner with the mosquito control experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Debary.

Our mosquito control program keeps these harmful pests at bay, all while protecting beneficial natural predators like the dragonfly. Enjoy your outdoor space to the fullest this summer by keeping it mosquito-free! Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation.

Did you know there’s a new invasive bug in Florida? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Florida residents have one more nuisance pest to worry about—a new invasive mosquito. Researchers say the Culex lactator species of mosquito is already well-established in Southwest Florida, and the rest of the state is likely to see these potentially-dangerous pests very soon. Here’s what you need to know.

The Culex Lactator Mosquito Invades Florida

Originally from Central and northern South America, the Culex lactator species is all-new to Florida, and scientists are sounding the alarm. This species comes from a group of mosquitoes that transmit deadly diseases like the West Nile virus and the encephalitis virus. While researchers don’t yet know whether this species will spread the disease to humans, they say that there’s reason to be concerned.

In May 2020, researchers found a Culex lactator mosquito in Florida City that contained the blood of a warbler bird. Both the West Nile and encephalitis viruses spread quickly among bird populations, making the discovery a very troubling one.

While science has made great strides when it comes to mosquitoes, there are still gaps in research, particularly among tropical mosquito species like the Culex lactator. In short, it’s hard for researchers to predict the exact implications of this species’ presence in Florida.

Learn More: The Ultimate Guide to Mosquitoes in Florida: How to Prevent Invasion

Controlling Mosquitoes

While partnering with mosquito control experts in your area is the best way to enjoy a mosquito-free yard, there are some actions you can take to make your yard less hospitable to these harmful pests. Some DIY methods that can help reduce mosquito populations in your yard include:

Remove Standing Water. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs even in tiny, shallow bodies of standing water, so you need to remain vigilant. Inspect your yard to find any containers of water and remove them. If you have standing water on your lawn, determine if there’s a drainage issue you can adjust to prevent water from pooling.

Plant Strategically. Did you know there are some plants that naturally repel these mosquitoes? Add plants like citronella, basil, lavender, peppermint, or lemon balm to your garden. You’ll enjoy the fragrant smells, and the mosquitoes will not.

Add Light. Citronella candles and other light sources can repel mosquitoes from your yard. You can even invest in bug lights with yellow bulbs that emit a light wavelength that naturally repels pests.

Learn More: How Can I Control Mosquitoes at an Outdoor Event?

Keep Mosquitoes Under Control This Summer and Protect Your Family

With warmer weather comes the inevitable arrival of mosquitoes. These pesky insects not only leave itchy and uncomfortable bites but can also pose a threat to the safety of your family and pets. Keep mosquitoes under control with the help of Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Leesburg.

Our eco-friendly techniques target mosquitoes and help keep them under control throughout the summer season while protecting natural predators like the dragonfly. Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your time outside this summer. Contact us today at (407) 880-6655 to learn more about how we can help keep your yard mosquito-free.