When termites make their way into your home, it’s nothing like a typical pest infestation—it’s more like a ticking time bomb. Termites multiply quickly and can cause serious damage to homes and other structures, eating away at the wood and causing thousands of dollars in repair costs. But how quickly can termites cause damage to your house? The answer may surprise you—read on to learn more.

Termites Can Destroy a Home in As Little as 1 Year

Termites are silent invaders, causing damage to homes by breaking down and eating anything that contains cellulose. While their favorite snack is wood, they also eat clothing, dung, mold, soil, and more.

How fast do termites eat wood? Often—especially in a place like Florida—termites make themselves at home in your yard. As they slowly expand their nest by digging tunnels, they move closer to your home, often entering by building mud tubes. Once inside, they’ll travel to all the wooden portions, eating away at the structure of your home. Most homeowners don’t notice the infestation until the damage has been done and fixing the problem costs thousands of dollars—if you’re lucky.

So, how long does it take for termites to eat and destroy a house? It partly depends on the colony’s size. The larger the colony, the more damage they can do. Here’s a rundown of the different types of termites that can infest your home, and how quickly they can do damage:

  • Subterranean: The most destructive type of termite—and one of the most common throughout Florida—the subterranean termites typically live underground. As the colony matures, it can cause significant damage, destroying a home’s structure in five to 6 years. The Formosan termite is one type of problematic subterranean termite, and they reproduce so rapidly that they can destroy a home in as little as one year.
  • Drywood: Although drywood termites damage much more slowly than their subterranean counterparts, they’re still a problem for many Florida homeowners. They have smaller colonies and like to infest dry wood in attics, walls, furniture, floors, supporting beams, and more.

Signs of a Termite Infestation

Every property owner should be vigilant against termites. Often, the early signs of termite damage are subtle or unnoticeable to start. Often, homeowners don’t notice the presence of termites until it’s too late and major damage has occurred. By being proactive and inspecting your property, you can catch a termite infestation early. If you’re seeing any of the following early signs of a termite infestation in your house, call the termite control experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Debary right away:

  • Discolored or drooping drywall
  • Mud tubes leading to/on your home
  • Peeling paint when no water damage has occurred
  • Swarmer termites and discarded wings
  • Tiny pinpoint holes in drywall

Call Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control at the First Sign of Termites

If you suspect termites have invaded your home, time is not on your side. The longer you wait to deal with a termite problem, the more damage can be done to your home. Call the termite control experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Debary right away at (407) 880-6655. Our industry-leading termite control treatments are non-toxic to humans and pets while protecting your property for a minimum of five years. Call today!

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!

Are there flowers that bloom all year in Florida? Yes! Thanks to its warm, sunny climate, many blooming flowers and plants thrive in gardens all year round. With the right combination of plants, you can add perennial color to your yard and outdoor space. What are the flowers that bloom year-round in Florida?—here are four to add to your yard to enjoy gorgeous color from season to season.

Blanket Flower

A gorgeous plant native to Florida, the Blanket flower makes an excellent ground color. Most species feature multi-colored flowers in bright red, yellow, or orange tones, with blossoms bursting in early summer until the first frost—which usually never comes in most parts of Florida. This flower is easy to grow since it thrives in nutrient-poor soil. All it needs is plenty of sun and minimal rainfall to enjoy the vibrant colors of the blanket flower year-round.

Bougainvillea

The bougainvillea is a favorite flower for many people, thanks to its gorgeous color and impressive size. This versatile vine or shrub can grow along the ground or up walls, trellis, or other supports. As a vine, a healthy bougainvillea can reach heights of up to 30 feet. Grown along the ground, it can spread up to 10 feet, making an excellent ground cover. This Florida perennial plant blooms profusely, and in Central Florida’s hardiness zone, you can expect vibrant flowers to bloom on and off throughout the year.

Bougainvillea is easy to grow in Florida’s climate. It needs full sun, with slight shade in the afternoon in summer to protect the vine from the heat. Make sure to keep this plane well-watered, especially in summer.

Firespike

Another flower that grows in Florida year-round is the Firespike. This tiny but mighty shrub shoots up flares of tubular, bright red flowers when it blooms—which can be all year long in Central Florida. The Firespike can reach several feet in height, and it even looks attractive at times when it’s not in bloom. If you’re looking for a great plant for a pollinator garden, the Firespike is a great option. Its nectar attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, so you can enjoy some colorful visitors in your yard. It grows well in full sun in moist soil, so water daily during dry spells.

Gerbera Daisies

The beautiful Gerbera daisy blooms all year long in Florida, especially in Central and South Florida. The large blooms in orange, pink, purple, red, or white can appear throughout the year and last for several weeks at a time. While they’re easy to care for and require full sun most of the year, make sure Gerbera daisies get some afternoon shade during hot weather.

Give Your Yard the Royal Treatment with Evergreen

Florida’s unique climate lets home- and business-owners grow beautiful perennial flowers and plants all year round but caring for them isn’t always easy. Leave lawn, tree, and shrub care to the experts at Evergreen Lawn & Pest Control – Apopka, and enjoy a beautiful landscape, without ever lifting a finger! Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation.

One of the perks of living in Florida is that you can grow spectacular plants that can’t be grown in many other parts of the country. Florida’s unique climate, featuring plenty of warmth and rainfall, makes it an ideal place to grow some of the most exotic, beautiful, and fragrant plants. Here are some of the most aromatic and fragrant flower blooms you can grow in your Florida yard as well as their names.

Gardenia

Florida gardeners love gardenias, and it’s easy to see why. These flowers thrive in the Florida sunshine, with lush flowers blooming from summer to fall. Gardenias are prized not only for their beautiful scent but also for their irresistible appearance. They feature snowy white blooms contrasting with glossy, dark green foliage.

Camellia

Camellias are friendly, fragrant flowers that come in shades of white and pink; red; blue; and even some combinations of colors. These ruffled flowers can grow around 4 inches across, and they feature a more delicate look than the gardenia. The camellia is treasured for its fragrance just as much as its beauty. They grow best in partial sunlight, and blooms can appear in early spring and even during the winter. It’s a great flower to grow if you’re looking to add some pops of color to your garden during the cooler months of the year.

Albuca

This unique-looking plant features tight, corkscrew-like leaves set on short stems, as well as a fragrant flower. Albuca blooms during the spring and its aroma is best compared to sweet, mellow vanilla. This plant likes full to partial sun and soil that offers plenty of drainage. It’s an easy plant to grow in a pot, both indoors and in your garden.

Jasmine

If you’re wondering which flower smells the best, well-known for its intoxicating smell, jasmine is one of the most fragrant plants you can grow in your Florida garden. These vines are perfect for adding life, color, and fragrance to trellis or pergolas on the sunny side of the house. They bloom from spring until fall, and some are ever-blooming, so you can enjoy their pleasant scent for months on end.

Passionflower

This delicate climbing flower produces incredible 4-to-6-inch blooms that are as fragrant as they are beautiful. The Passion Flower gets its name from its reproductive organs, which resemble a cross, and its aromatic blooms that pop during the spring and fall ripen into flavorful passion fruits you and your family can enjoy! They grow best on a strong pergola or trellis, in either full sun or partial shade.

A Perfect Garden Pairs Well with a Perfect Lawn

Florida’s hardiness zone is just right for growing some unique, fragrant plants and flowers. Remember that the perfect complement to a beautiful garden is a beautiful lawn. Need help getting your grass in great shape? Reach out to the lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Apopka and look forward to a lush, green lawn in no time. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation!