Author: Wendy Holtz

4 Essential Tips for Zoysia/St. Augustine Lawn Care in 2024

Looking to achieve the lushest, greenest lawn on the block in 2024? Both Zoysia grass and St. Augustine grass grow well in Florida’s warm, wet climate. Either grass species can create a great-looking lawn if you know how to properly care for it. Here are four essential tips to help you make the most of your Zoysia or St. Augustine lawn—this year and beyond.

1. Water Appropriately.

Zoysia grass and St. Augustine grass have very different needs when it comes to watering. While Zoysia is very drought-tolerant, St. Augustine requires a good drink a few times every week. In general, Zoysia grass needs about one inch of water per week, while the thirstier St. Augustine grass needs two to three inches of water per week. If it’s not getting that from rainfall, spread out your watering three times per week during the Summer.

2. Follow a Fertilizer Treatment Program.

Both Zoysia and St. Augustine grass need fertilizer to grow lush and green. Zoysia grass requires less fertilizer than St. Augustine, as long as you’re watering it appropriately. Appropriate fertilization all depends on the growth rate you want and your soil fertility. Rather than leaving it up to guesswork, rely on Evergreen’s trusted lawn care fertilization programs to provide your grass with the exact nutrients it needs to flourish.

3. Mow Regularly.

You’ll need to mow your lawn not only to keep it tidy, but also to keep weeds and insects at bay. While Zoysia grass thrives when cut to a height of just one to two inches, St. Augustine grass flourishes when it’s allowed to grow a bit taller. In general, you should mow St. Augustine grass to a height of two to three inches.

4. Aerate the Lawn.

Thick turf like Zoysia grass or St. Augustine grass can become very dense and compact over time. If you want your lawn to truly thrive, you need to invest in professional aeration from the experts at Evergreen.

Our aeration technique bores evenly spaced holes throughout your lawn, loosening layers of thatch and dirt. The soil cores allow nutrients to penetrate the soil, and they even release nutrients as they decompose on the surface of your turf. By following a routine schedule for aeration, you can ensure your lawn can soak up vital nutrients, water, air, and fertilizer, stimulating dense, healthy growth.

Get the Best-Looking Yard on the Block with the Help of Evergreen

Zoysia and St. Augustine grass are surprisingly sensitive plants that take the right combination of nutrients and maintenance to grow lush, dense, and green. If you’re looking to make the most of your lawn, regardless of what species of grass you have, all it takes is one call to the lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Debary. We’ll create a customized, eco-friendly treatment plan for your lawn to prime it for long-term, healthy growth. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 to get started!

What Are Grubs and How Can I Keep Them Away from My Lawn?

Grubs can wreak havoc on beautiful lawns and landscapes across Florida. As they feed on grass roots and organic soil matter, they cause portions of your grass to die. If you’re dealing with a grub problem, or you want to prevent one, read on to learn everything you need to know about these troublesome pests.

What Are Grubs?

The term “grub” is a blanket term that refers to the larval stages of several beetle species, including many that are common in Florida, like European chafers, Japanese beetles, June beetles, and more. Grubs have soft, white bodies and sets of legs near their head, and they curl into a “C” shape when disturbed.

Grubs are dormant in winter and become active when warm weather arrives in early Spring. They can cause major damage to a landscape since they feed on grass roots and other foliage in yards across Florida. Lawn grubs turn into adult beetles, and they lay their eggs near their feeding sites, perpetuating an infestation. That’s why a grub problem, once established, can be so hard to treat.

How can you tell if you’re dealing with a grub problem in your lawn? Keep an eye out for these common signs:

  • Spongy grass. Grubs feed on the roots of turfgrass, so your lawn will quickly start turning spongy and yellow in the areas they’re feeding. If you notice spots in your lawn feel soft underfoot, give that area of turf a tug. If the grass lifts up very easily, it’s a good sign that grubs have made your lawn their home. In many cases, you may even see grubs wriggling around in the soil.
  • Brown, patchy grass. Before grass becomes completely yellowed and easy to pull up, grub damage can cause it to turn brown and patchy. You’ll notice this issue in random spots across your lawn, especially in late summer or early fall when a grub’s appetite goes into overdrive.
     
  • Hovering moths. Noticing tiny moths hovering over the surface of your lawn or garden beds? It could be a sign of an imminent grub attack. These moths are likely mature grubs searching for a healthy, thriving lawn to lay their eggs. Over the next several days, you may see additional activity on your turf as the eggs hatch and the young grubs begin to feed themselves.
  • Presence of other pests. Many pests love to feed on grubs, including skunks, raccoons, and other digging critters. They can even destroy your lawn while searching for grubs, causing damage that can be just as difficult and expensive to treat as the grub problem itself.

How to Keep Grubs Away from Your Lawn

Want to make sure grubs won’t make themselves at home below your turf? There are some natural ways to prevent grub infestations before they start. Follow these simple steps:

  1. Work with pest control experts. The best way to prevent a grub infestation—or any other lawn pest infestation, for that matter—is by maintaining a relationship with your local pest control professionals. The experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control take an integrated pest management approach to pest control, making your yard inhospitable to grubs and other pests so that it can grow lush and green.
     
  2. Aerate the lawn. You can make your lawn much less attractive to grubs by aerating it. This labor-intensive task is best left to the professionals at Evergreen Lawn and Pest control who can aerate the lawn and create a less welcoming environment for pests.

Evergreen Keeps Your Lawn and Landscape Grub-Free

Grubs damage grass at the root level, destroying your lawn from the ground up. Whether you’re dealing with an active grub infestation, or you want to keep one from damaging your beautiful lawn, the experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Leesburg are ready to help. Our eco-friendly treatments keep your lawn grub-free for good. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation!

5 Signs It’s Time for a New Lawn Service Provider

Not all lawn service providers are created equal. Aside from variations in treatment methods, some companies just don’t offer the same level of customer service that others do. If you’re unhappy with your lawn service provider, it could be time to make a change. After all, you’re paying for a healthy, gorgeous lawn, so you should get what you pay for. Here are some of the signs it’s time to look for and retain a new lawn service provider.

1. Poor Lawn Color or Density

You hired your lawn service provider to get your lawn lush and green, and if your grass is struggling in terms of color or thickness, it’s a clear sign you need to switch service providers.

Quality lawn care companies, like Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control, offer comprehensive solutions to improve your lawn’s color and density. Often, it’s a simple addition or solution to fix these issues. If you’re investing in lawn care and not getting the dense, green lawn you want, it’s time to make the switch.

2. Poor Weed Control

Weeds can drag down the appearance of otherwise healthy lawns. If you’re still seeing weeds in your grass, it’s a clear sign it’s time to find a new lawn service provider. A quality lawn care company, like Evergreen, can offer a full range of effective solutions to stop problem weeds right in their tracks.

3. Poor Communication

Your lawn service provider should make you a priority. If your current lawn care company doesn’t answer the phone or return your calls, you need to make a switch very soon. You should be able to reach your lawn care provider by phone when you need them, or they should be willing to return your calls in a timely manner.

4. Poor Insect Control

Insects can take a major toll on the health of your grass, but not all lawn care companies are prepared to deal with the wide range of bugs that inhabit Florida lawns. Instead of relying on several service providers to handle both lawn care and insect control, rely on the experts at Evergreen. We’ll create a comprehensive lawn treatment program that includes addressing troublesome pests, so you can count on a healthier, pest-free lawn.

5. Poor Product Choices

The products you put on your lawn matter, not just in terms of the health of your grass, but also when it comes to your family, pets, and the environment. Many lawn care companies use hazardous chemicals as part of their treatment plan. Evergreen, on the other hand, only uses eco-friendly, proven treatments that are safe for people and pets. Now, it’s easier than ever to get a gorgeous, lush yard that’s safe for the whole family to enjoy.

Make the Switch to Evergreen Today!

If you’re unsatisfied with your current lawn service provider, it’s time to make the switch. Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Apopka offers comprehensive lawn care and pest control services that turn even the roughest yards into gorgeous ones. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation!

Which Lawn Should I Choose for My Yard? (Zoysia, Bahia, St. Augustine)

Whether you’re choosing grass for a new construction property or you’re replanting an existing lawn, you’re likely wondering what grass type works best for your area. In warm, sunny Florida, there are three common grass varieties found throughout the state: Zoysia, Bahia, and St. Augustine. Read on to discover which one’s right for your Orlando lawn.

Zoysia Grass

It’s no secret that Zoysia grass is gorgeous. Its deep, dark green color is beautiful and what most people picture when they think of a dense, turf-like lawn. If your Florida lawn sees a lot of foot traffic, Zoysia grass is an excellent choice—it’s even used on many of the nation’s most popular golf courses.

Zoysia grass thrives in coastal areas and loves to get plenty of sun. It’s incredibly drought-tolerant and holds up well against disease. It’s also one of the lowest maintenance grasses you can choose—perfect for homeowners who don’t want to spend tons of time dealing with lawn maintenance. By partnering with a lawn care provider like Evergreen, you can ensure your Zoysia grass grows thick and lush, year after year.

Bahia Grass

A gorgeous grass native to Brazil, Bahia Grass is drought tolerant once established. It’s ideal for sandy soils, and it can be grown from sod or seed. If you’re looking for grass that’s easy to care for, Bahia is a good choice—it doesn’t require a lot of fertilization or irrigation to thrive. It does, however, require full sun and weekly mowing, and it’s intolerant of foot traffic, salt water, and shade. You’ll also need to keep an eye out for weeds, and partner with a lawn care provider who can provide a comprehensive treatment plan, including weed control, to encourage your lawn to thrive.

St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass is native to states near the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Mediterranean. This grass thrives in the various soils you’ll find throughout Florida—it’s adapted well to Florida’s humid, subtropical weather.

If you’re looking for a lush, green lawn for your Orlando property, St. Augustine is an excellent option. It can be established both with the placement of new sod and by adding plugs to bare areas. It requires plenty of care, including mowing, watering, and fertilization. Keep in mind that this type of grass is vulnerable to chinch bugs, so you need to not only work with a reputable lawn service provider with comprehensive pest control services, so you’ll have a gorgeous lawn that’s also pest-free.

Choose the Right Grass for Your Florida Lawn

The beauty of a lush, green Florida lawn knows no bounds, but you need to plant the right grass to set your yard up for success. Need help picking the right grass for your lawn? Reach out to the experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Orlando today at (407) 880-6655! We’ll help you choose a grass type and ensure it thrives.

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