Category: Lifestyle

Is your lawn not looking as lush and green as it should, even though you’re taking great care of it? A pest issue could be to blame. Lawn pests are common throughout Florida, and several will snack on your grass and even your ornamental plants. If you suspect something’s eating your Florida lawn, here are the top three pests to look out for.

Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are destructive pests throughout Florida. There are several species of chinch bugs throughout the state, and they each prefer a particular type of grass. So, no matter what grass grows in your lawn, it’s vulnerable to damage from these hungry pests. While chinch bugs are difficult to see, here are some identifying characteristics:

• Distinct coloring, with black, white, and red spots
• Hard bodies with wings that fold over their backs
• Tiny size, with most species measuring only about 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length

Most Florida lawns have small populations of chinch bugs, and this typically isn’t a problem. When these pests increase in large numbers, though, they’ll feed on and destroy your grass and plants, injecting toxins that prevent them from getting moisture and nutrients from the soil. Your lawn and ornamental plants will turn yellow and die, so controlling an infestation early—with the help of Evergreen—is critical.

Whiteflies

Whiteflies commonly attack ornamental plants rather than grass, so if you spot whiteflies in your lawn, it’s a good indicator they came from your plants. Whiteflies suck fluids from plants, and infestations are often only noticed when leaves turn yellow or spotted. 

A whitefly infestation is difficult to control and is best left to the experts at Evergreen. Most homeowners mistakenly apply an insecticide to control whiteflies, but this often eliminates natural whitefly predators and makes the problem worse. Monitor your plants by frequently checking the underside of leaves for these tiny white insects and contact Evergreen immediately to eliminate an infestation the right way.

Mole Crickets

Mole crickets are often attracted to lawns with Bahiagrass. These troublesome pests are a serious problem in Florida, and they tunnel through and snack on the roots of your grass, as well as plant leaves. Three species of mole crickets are common in South Florida, including the large tawny mole cricket, the dark brown southern mole cricket, and the short-winged mole cricket. 

While you can pour a mixture of detergent and water to test your lawn for mole crickets, it’s best to call the pest control experts at Evergreen right away. We deal with mole crickets the eco-friendly way, protecting beneficial predators and eliminating infestations quickly and effectively.

Get Year-Round Protection for Your Lawn

Floridians are all too familiar with dealing with pesky pests invading their lawns. From caterpillars to chinch bugs, these nuisances can wreak havoc on your beautiful grass and vegetation. It’s important to know the type of pest that you are dealing with so that you can appropriately treat it before damage is done to your yard. 

Call the lawn care and pest control experts at Evergreen of Oakland Park at (954) 568-9955 for your free lawn pest evaluation. We’ll detect the presence of any nuisance pests that may be setting up shop in your yard and provide a comprehensive treatment plan to keep your lawn pest-free this spring and beyond!

Having trouble fixing troublesome bare patches in your yard? While every homeowner dreams of a healthy, thriving lawn, it’s a very difficult feat to achieve. If you’re dealing with bare or bald spots in your yard, here’s what you can do to treat them.

Determine the Cause of Bare Spots in Your Yard

If you want to treat bald patches in your yard, the first thing you must do is determine what the underlying issue might be. Thin or bare areas of a lawn can be caused by several lawn care issues, including:

• Heavy foot traffic that leads to soil compaction
• Heavy shade from trees
• Insect infestations
• Misapplication of weed or insect control products
• Prolonged drought
• Weed infestations
• And more

Getting to the root cause of the problem is critical when it comes to avoiding future bald patches. Instead of leaving it to guesswork, reach out to your lawn care experts who can take an informed look at things like your soil, grass type, and potential problems like pests or diseases to determine how to best treat the issue. 

Repairing Bare Areas of Your Lawn

There are several techniques for repairing bare areas of grass—it all depends on the specific problem you’re facing. Reach out to your trusted lawn care technician to determine the cause of the problem. The method for fixing it could include one or more of the following:

• Seeding. While many homeowners believe that overselling a lawn can quickly fill in bare patches, this technique only works under the right conditions. If you plan to seed in the spring or the fall—when air and soil temperatures are ideal for the process, make sure the soil is prepared. If your soil is compacted due to heavy foot traffic, your technician may suggest core aeration to let the soil breathe and absorb helpful nutrients. Many Florida lawns also have an acidic soil pH, so may also need to balance the soil pH to ensure good seed establishment.
• Insect Control. If insects are the cause of bare spots in your yard, your lawn care technician will suggest an insect control program to deal with the problem of insects while protecting beneficial species.
• Disease Control. Sometimes, fungus or disease can be the cause of bare spots in your lawn. Your lawn care technician will prescribe a comprehensive disease control course to treat the issue.
• Fertilizer Application. If your lawn has poor soil conditions, fertilizer application may help fix bare spots. Your lawn care technician will apply an appropriate fertilizer at the right time, especially if you’re re-seeding the bare patches.

The Guaranteed Way to Fix Bare Spots in Your Lawn 

Fixing bare spots in your lawn is a more challenging task than it seems. Rather than leaving it to guesswork and ending up with a patchy lawn right in the middle of growing season, let the lawn care experts at Service Choice of Ft. Lauderdale fix your lawn the right way.

After an initial consultation, we’ll develop a customized lawn care treatment program that meets the unique needs of your grass and encourages healthy, long-term growth. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation! 

Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to improve your outdoor living space, and maintaining a healthy lawn should be at the top of your to-do list. Unfortunately, achieving the perfect lawn can be challenging for homeowners in South Florida. Here are some of the common spring lawn care mistakes you need to avoid, and what you can do to ensure your lawn is primed for healthy growth in the spring and beyond.

Improper Fertilization

Your lawn needs critical nutrients to grow and thrive but applying the wrong fertilizer—or applying the right fertilizer at the wrong time—can do damage to your grass. Since every lawn is unique, you need to do plenty of research to determine what type of fertilizer is best for your lawn, as well as the best application technique, frequency, and quantity of product.

The lawn care professionals at Service Choice of Oakland Park can create a proper fertilization regimen that meets your lawn’s unique needs. We’ll account for several factors, including your grass type and the season, to make sure your lawn is primed for healthy growth and resists insects and disease.

Overwatering

While it’s tempting to water your lawn frequently—especially during the hotter months of the year—this practice may not only be wasteful, but it can also drown out your emerging lawn. It’s best to water once or twice a week, providing your lawn with around one inch of water. You should always water in the morning to ensure proper evaporation into the soil.

Mowing Too Short

While keeping your grass trimmed is critical when it comes to preventing pest infestations and the spread of fungus, cutting too low can damage your grass. When you mow too short, your lawn is more prone to drought stress, weeds, and even disease. Maintain a minimum of three inches in length, depending on your grass type. In general, you shouldn’t mow more than 1/3-inch of a grass blade in a single mowing session. When in doubt, consult your lawn care professionals who understand the best mowing height for the grass type you have in your yard. 

Overlooking Weed Prevention

You need proper weed prevention to protect your lawn. Once weeds take root in your yard, they can quickly spread, crowding out healthy grass and sucking essential nutrients out of the soil. Maintaining a healthy, dense lawn is the best defense against weeds. Alongside proper mowing, watering, and fertilization, you should invest in pre-emergent weed control to prevent weeds from taking root during the spring growing seasons. Your lawn care technician can inspect your lawn for weeds and apply an appropriate post-emergent weed control on problematic areas.

A Trophy Lawn Is Just a Phone Call Away

Achieving a lush, healthy, green lawn is well within reach, as long as you rely on the lawn care experts at Service Choice of Oakland Park to care for your yard. After a free initial inspection, we’ll suggest a comprehensive treatment plan–including fertilization; pre-emergent application; and disease and insect control–so your lawn is primed for healthy growth. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to schedule your free consultation!

Although crabgrass and other weeds seem to appear out of nowhere, they don’t just start growing overnight. Crabgrass can easily overwhelm a lawn, which means you need to stay vigilant and prevent it from growing so that it won’t take over your lawn. Here’s what you need to know about crabgrass, and how you can prevent it from overwhelming your yard.

What Is Crabgrass?

Crabgrass is an annual, very unattractive weed that typically enters Florida lawns through bare spots. It features a coarse texture and strange variation in color, so it always sticks out in a lawn.

Crabgrass germinates whenever soil temperatures are ideal, with peak germination near 65 degrees. It drops seeds during the summer and early fall, and the seeds remain over the winter, germinating in the spring as temperatures rise. Summer is the prime season for crabgrass, as it flourishes during the hot months and begins to outcompete the rest of your lawn. Preventing crabgrass—and getting it under control if it’s already taken hold—is essential in maintaining a lush, healthy lawn.

Preventing Crabgrass in Your Lawn

The best way to prevent crabgrass is with eco-friendly pre-emergent treatments, like the ones the lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control offer. Evergreen’s lawn care professionals understand the optimal time and soil temperature for applying these pre-emergent in the spring. We also recommend a pre-emergent application heading into fall as soil temperatures start decreasing to prevent other broadleaf weeds from germinating.

Some of the other effective ways to prevent crabgrass from taking over your lawn include:

• Avoid Mowing Too Short. Mowing your lawn too short can help crabgrass spread since it takes root in thin, bare patches of lawn. Mow to the proper height for the type of grass you have, usually at a height between 1-4”.
• Water Regularly. Crabgrass thrives in dry, hot conditions, so you should give your native grass the best chance of survival by ensuring it stays moist in the warm seasons. Water regularly, ensuring the soil is evenly moist.
• Use Mulch. Mulch is a helpful natural remedy against the spread of crabgrass. Simply apply a layer of mulch in bare patches of lawn—or in areas where crabgrass has already taken hold—to smother any weeds. Just make sure no mulch is covering any plants you want to protect.
• Use Boiling Water. If you have isolated patches of crabgrass in your lawn, douse them with boiling water. The hot water will kill the crabgrass, allowing you to reseed the area with seed of your native grass type.

Optimize Your Lawn With the Help of Service Choice of Oakland Park

Crabgrass can quickly ruin an otherwise great-looking lawn. The best way to prevent crabgrass, along with other weeds, diseases, and insects, is by relying on help from the lawn care experts at Service Choice of Oakland Park. We’ll create a customized treatment program that ensures you get optimal results from your lawn. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to get started!