Author: Wendy Holtz

A pristine, green lawn is the pride of many homeowners, but lurking beneath the surface, there can be a tiny yet destructive enemy: fire ants. These aggressive pests can quickly turn your beautiful lawn into a dangerous minefield, posing risks to both humans and pets. Let’s look closer at the ways fire ants can ruin your lawn and how to spot their presence without getting bit.

The Fire Ant Threat

Fire ants are notorious for their painful stings and aggressive behavior. These reddish-brown ants are invasive in many parts of the United States, especially in sunny Florida. They can inflict painful stings that result in itching, swelling, and, in some cases, severe allergic reactions.

The damage fire ants cause isn’t limited to their painful stings. Fire ants can wreak havoc on your lawn in several ways:

• Unsightly Mounds: Fire ants build large, unsightly mounds on your lawn, disrupting its pristine appearance. These mounds can be up to 18 inches in diameter and create a tripping hazard for both humans and pets.

• Plant Damage: Fire ants are not just voracious carnivores; they can also damage your plants. They feed on young plant roots and can inhibit plant growth, leading to unsightly patches and weakened vegetation.

• Harm to Wildlife: Fire ants can harm local wildlife. They are known to consume ground-nesting birds’ eggs and small reptiles, affecting the natural balance of your yard’s ecosystem.

Learn More: 4 Tips for Protecting Your Children From Fire Ants

How to Tell if You Have Fire Ants in Your Yard

Identifying fire ant infestations without getting stung can be tricky, but there are some signs to look for:

• Mounds: As mentioned earlier, fire ants build distinctive mounds. If you spot raised mounds of soil with no visible entrance hole, it’s likely a fire ant nest.

• Aggressive Behavior: Fire ants are known for their aggressive nature. If you observe a group of ants behaving aggressively or swarming around food, water, or trash, they may be fire ants.

• Sting Marks: If you, your family members, or pets suddenly have painful, itchy red welts, it could be a sign of fire ant stings.

• Circular Patches of Dead Grass: Fire ants may damage your lawn, resulting in circular patches of dead or dying grass.

• Presence of Larvae: Fire ant colonies produce larvae. If you dig gently around a suspected mound and find white or pale-colored larvae, it’s a strong indicator of a fire ant nest.

Learn More: Our Complete Guide to I.D.-ing & Managing Fire Ants

Protect Your Family and Your Lawn From the Fire Ant Threat

Fire ants pose a real threat to the safety of your family and pets, as well as the health and aesthetics of your lawn. If you spot signs of fire ants in your yard, don’t wait to contact Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Leesburg right away. We know how to handle a fire ant infestation once and for all. Don’t let these invasive pests ruin your outdoor haven; call us today at (407) 880-6655 for reliable fire ant control solutions.

As the summer heat gradually subsides and the leaves begin to change color in other parts of the country, Florida residents have a different kind of fall season to look forward to. While the state may not experience the same dramatic shifts in temperature, fall is still an important time for lawn care in the Sunshine State. To help you maintain a lush and healthy lawn during the fall months, here are five essential tips.

Rethink Your Watering Schedule

Fall often comes as a relief to Floridians as temperatures get more mild and rain subsides. With this in mind, it’s crucial to adjust your lawn’s watering schedule. Overwatering can lead to fungal diseases, so it’s best to water deeply but less frequently. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either through natural rainfall or irrigation. Remember to water your lawn early in the morning to minimize evaporation and prevent the growth of fungi.

Learn More: What Issues Can Overwatering Your Lawn Cause?

Keep Mowing, but Adjust the Height

Grass is still growing in full force in the fall in Florida, so you need to keep mowing your lawn even as temperatures cool. But don’t forget to adjust the cutting height on your mower. Raise the blades to a height of about 2.5 to 3 inches so that the grass can develop deeper roots, making it more resilient to drought and pests. Additionally, taller grass shades the soil, reducing weed growth. Regular mowing during the fall ensures your lawn stays neat and healthy.

Aerate Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn in the fall is a critical step in maintaining its health. Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the roots more effectively. This process helps to relieve soil compaction and promotes a healthier root system. Consider renting an aerator or hiring a professional lawn care service like Service Choice of South Florida to ensure this task is done correctly.

Fertilize Wisely

Fall is just one of the times of year when it’s important to fertilize your lawn. But most homeowners don’t know what fertilizer to use, or when and how to apply it. Rather than leaving it to guesswork, reach out to the lawn care experts at Service Choice of South Florida. We understand how to properly fertilize your lawn in the fall, so it can prepare your turf for the cooler months ahead. You can rest assured your grass will get all the nutrients it needs to thrive, without promoting excessive growth.

Get Pests and Disease Under Control

Fall can be a vulnerable time for your Florida lawn when it comes to pests and diseases. Keep a close eye on your lawn for signs of trouble, such as brown patches, grubs, or chinch bugs. Contact a professional lawn care service like Service Choice of South Florida for top-tier pest and disease control solutions. Our expertise extends to pest prevention, disease management, and ensuring your lawn remains pest-free throughout the fall season.

Learn More: How Do You Treat Sod Webworms in Florida?

Call Service Choice of South Florida and Enjoy a Healthy Lawn This Fall and Beyond

Caring for your Florida lawn in the fall involves making some specific adjustments, from watering to mowing, and it can be tricky to get it all just right. Reach out to the lawn care pros at Service Choice of South Florida for expert guidance, so your lawn can thrive this fall and beyond. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to schedule your free lawn care evaluation.

A lush, green lawn is the pride of any Florida homeowner, but it can quickly turn into a source of frustration when brown patches appear. The lawn disease brown patch fungus is one common culprit for these unsightly blemishes. Here’s what you should do if you’re dealing with brown patch fungus.

What is Brown Patch Fungus?

Brown patch fungus is a common fungal disease that affects lawns in various climates, including the warm and humid conditions of West Palm Beach, Florida. This disease typically appears during periods of high humidity and warm temperatures, such as the summer and early fall months. It manifests as circular or irregular-shaped brown patches in your lawn, ranging from a few inches to several feet in diameter.

The brown patches are often surrounded by a dark ring or “smoke ring,” which is a distinctive feature of this disease. The affected grass blades within these patches may wither, become water-soaked, and eventually die. Brown patch fungus primarily affects cool-season grasses like St. Augustine and ryegrass but can also target warm-season varieties.

Learn More: How Do I Know if My Yard Has a Disease?

Preventing Brown Patch Fungus

Prevention is key when it comes to brown patch fungus, and avoiding overwatering can reduce the chance of it forming in your lawn. Excess moisture creates the ideal environment for fungal growth, so it’s important to manage your watering practices effectively. Here are some brown patch fungus prevention tips:

• Water Early in the Morning: Water your lawn in the early morning hours to allow the grass to dry quickly in the sunlight, preventing prolonged moisture on the blades.
• Avoid Frequent, Light Watering: Deep and infrequent watering is better than shallow, frequent watering. This encourages deep root growth and reduces the surface moisture that fungi thrive on.
• Improve Lawn Aeration: Aerating your lawn helps improve air circulation, reducing moisture retention and the risk of brown patch fungus.
• Choose Disease-Resistant Grass Varieties: When planting or reseeding your lawn, opt for grass varieties known for their resistance to brown patch fungus.
• Proper Fertilization: Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, which can promote fungal growth. Use a balanced fertilizer and follow recommended application rates.

Learn More: Our Top Watering Tips for a Healthy Lawn

Treating Brown Patch Fungus with Service Choice of West Palm Beach

If you suspect your lawn is suffering from brown patch fungus, it’s essential to address it promptly to prevent further damage. While there are fungicides available for DIY treatments, the best course of action is to enlist the help of professionals like Service Choice of West Palm Beach.

Service Choice’s lawn care experts have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and effectively treat brown patch fungus. We’ll tailor a treatment plan to your specific lawn and its unique needs, ensuring that the disease is eradicated once and for all. With our expertise, you can enjoy lush, green turf again without the worry of brown patch fungus recurring. Call us today at (561) 734-9269 to schedule your free lawn evaluation!

Florida is a wonderful place to live—and bugs think so, too. Pest control is essential in keeping your home and family safe from creepy crawlers. Florida’s warm climate and humidity provide the perfect breeding ground for pests that can harm your loved ones and property. Read on to learn why quarterly pest control is essential in Florida and how it can benefit you and your family.

Pests Are More Than a Nuisance—They’re Dangerous

Pests aren’t just annoying—they can pose serious health risks to you, your family, and your pets. Several common Florida pests can be dangerous, including mosquitoes that carry and transmit dangerous diseases and fire ants that have painful stings. Other common pests like roaches and rodents can invade your home and cause asthma and can even contaminate your food. Quarterly pest control ensures that your home is always protected against unhealthy, unwanted critters.

Florida’s hot and humid climate can lead to an influx of different pests that can wreak havoc on your property. With regular quarterly pest control, you can protect your property from these unwanted guests, saving you thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements and keeping your family and pets healthy.

Learn More: Our Guide to Mosquito-Borne Illnesses in Central Florida

An Eco-Friendly Approach to Pest Control Is Important

The use of pesticides poses a danger to the environment and human health—that’s why an eco-friendly approach to pest control is more important than ever. Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control provides eco-friendly pest control services that are both safe and effective. Our pest control experts are trained to use the latest techniques and methods to control pests without causing any harm to people, pets, or the environment.

Besides keeping your home and family safe, quarterly pest control can save you time and money. Rather than resorting to DIY pest control methods when an infestation gets out of hand, routine attention from pest control experts ensures your home and yard stay pest-free. So, take a proactive approach to pest control and enjoy your property to the fullest, rather than worrying about potential pest problems.

Learn More: How Can I Prepare for My Pest Control Treatment?

A Pest-Free Home and Yard Is Just a Phone Call Away

Quarterly pest control is essential in Florida because it helps protect your home, family, and pets from pests that can be harmful to their health. Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control –Orlando provides eco-friendly pest control services that provide effective protection while still being safe for families, pets, and the environment. Contact us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free pest control evaluation and give your loved ones the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your home is pest-free.