Most people know that hurricanes can cause significant damage to life and property from the forces of nature, like wind and rain. But did you know that there’s a hidden problem that often lingers after a hurricane or strong storm blows through? Hurricanes and termites go hand in hand, so in a place like Florida, homeowners need to be on their guard for these troublesome pests.

Here’s what you need to know about the link between termite infestations and bugs after hurricanes.

Why Are Termites Linked to Hurricane Season?

Termites are hungry pests that are always on the hunt for damp, damaged wood. After a strong storm like a hurricane rolls through, the damage it causes to wood can create a breeding ground for termites.

There are two troublesome termite species common to Florida—subterranean termites and Formosan termites. They both infest damp wood that’s often in contact with soil. During a stormy summer and active hurricane season, the main dangers of termites include:

  1. Storms bring wood in contact with water and wet soil, and they often cause water damage to properties throughout Florida. When wood above ground is affected by water damage, subterranean termites come out of their nests and establish themselves within the upper levels of a building, eating away at the wood and causing major structural damage.
  2. Termites don’t just affect buildings—they also love to snack on trees. While hurricanes don’t encourage termites to attack trees, trees already weakened by termites are more prone to fall during a strong storm.

Hurricanes and strong storms displace termites and flooding often kills those that live underground. Don’t get your hopes up, though, as flooding won’t usually kill an entire colony. The queen is often protected in air pockets, and winged variants can survive, too.

Formosan termites are even more resilient—they’re better at both surviving and relocating even after the strongest of storms. While there may be a decrease in the number of termite populations immediately after flooding, they reproduce quickly—especially when there’s such an abundance of damaged, damp wood at their disposal. Don’t risk a termite infestation that could damage your home or business. Reach out to your emergency termite control professionals after a strong storm, even if you don’t see any visible signs of termite damage.

How to Prevent Termite Infestations During Hurricane Season

Hurricane season is stressful enough—the last thing you want to worry about is the threat of a termite infestation. Gain peace of mind and make sure your property isn’t vulnerable to a termite infestation by working closely with your local termite control professionals.

The experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Debary are standing by to help! Our eco-friendly emergency termite treatments put your mind at ease. Using America’s #1 termite control product, our termite professionals can get any infestation under control and ensure your home is safe from future infestations. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation!

Keeping your lawn healthy, lush, and green is a delicate business. Not only do you have to mow, water, fertilize, and aerate appropriately, but you also must keep a lookout for troublesome lawn and grass diseases and fungi. In a warm, wet place like Florida, several harmful diseases tend to flourish throughout the year. From brown patch disease to leaf spot fungus, root rot to goosegrass, here are the most common lawn diseases and fungi you’ll find in Central Florida.

1. Brown Patch Disease

One of the most prevalent lawn diseases throughout Florida, brown patch disease is often found in St. Augustine grass and lawns with fescue grasses. The brown patch fungal disease in Florida can be severe if not treated right away, forming when daytime and nighttime temperatures are high. Humidity and rain can contribute to the spread of the disease, which can be tough to treat when it takes hold.

2. Dollar Spot

This common lawn disease feeds on every warm-season grass, so lawns throughout Florida can be affected. When the problem spreads, you’ll notice lesions in silver-dollar-sized spots across your lawn. Maintaining proper soil fertilization can prevent Dollar Spot from harming your grass.

3. Leaf Spot Fungus

Too much moisture and poor air circulation are the typical causes of leaf spot fungus, a lawn disease that creates spots on foliage and grass. Your lawn care professionals will use an eco-friendly fungicide to treat the grass and prevent reoccurrence.

4. Root Rot

While commonly seen in trees and shrubs, root rot can also damage the turf in your lawn. Identifying root rot is difficult, so reach out to your local lawn care professionals to determine the cause of the problem and the best way to treat it.

5. Goosegrass

This unsightly weed is common throughout Florida, and it can drag down the appearance of your lawn in a big way. If you’re noticing weeds with whitish, flattened stems, you’re likely dealing with pesky, invasive goosegrass. If this weed becomes established in your yard, expect to see it year after year. This weed can lead to diseases like Sugar Cane Mosaic, so don’t let it linger in your yard. Instead, call the lawn care experts to remove the problem once and for all.

6. Crabgrass

Crabgrass thrives in Florida’s warm, humid climate. Hot summer days can create bare spots in your yard—the perfect place for crabgrass to take root once the rainy days of hurricane season arrive. Crabgrass is tricky to treat once it’s taken root in your yard, so don’t wait to contact your local lawn care experts, otherwise, the problem will spread.

Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control Can Restore Your Lawn to Perfect Health

No matter what type of lawn and grass disease or fungi may be plaguing your Florida yard, the lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control in Apopka are ready to treat it, once and for all. Using proven-effective, eco-friendly methods, we’ll restore your grass to perfect health, so you can enjoy the trophy lawn you’ve always dreamed of. Schedule your free consultation by giving us a call today at (407) 880-6655!

Want to enjoy a healthy, lush landscape at home, but don’t want to spend all your free time working in your yard? In Florida, you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for convenience. There are several ways to improve your landscaping—and your home’s overall curb appeal—without a ton of effort. Here are five low maintenance Florida landscaping ideas for your home.

1. Make Sure to Mulch

Mulch not only looks pretty and smells appealing, but it also makes your garden easier to maintain. It keeps weeds from sprouting and helps plants get the moisture they need to thrive. Types of organic mulch—like wood chips—break down and add nutrients to the soil, but this mulch will need to be replaced every spring. Kinds of inorganic mulch, like rocks or rubber, never need replacing, and they look great in the right setting.

2. Use Native Plants

When it comes to low-maintenance plants, you can’t go wrong when you go local. Native plants require less fertilizing, watering, and pest control. Luckily, in Florida, there are many gorgeous, easy-to-grow native flowers, shrubs, and trees, like azaleas, violets, and the sable palm.

Native grasses require less work, too. In Florida, the best options for low-maintenance lawns include Bahia grass, centipede grass, and Zoysia grass.

3. Consider Ground Cover

If you don’t like dealing with mowing the lawn from week to week, especially when temperatures get hot, consider replacing your grass with a low-maintenance ground cover plant. The right ground cover can give you that lush, green lawn you’re looking for without the hassle of mowing. In Florida, some excellent landscaping ideas for the front of your house include English ivy, creeping phlox, and periwinkle.

4. Make Container Gardens

Container gardens are an easy-to-care-for alternative to traditional flower beds—they don’t require any digging or hard labor. It’s also easier to keep weeds and pests out of potted plants than those living in the ground. Arrange potted plants in your yard in pleasing arrangements and move them easily whenever you’re in the mood for a change.

5. Add Color with Perennials

Perennials are an excellent low maintenance Florida landscaping idea if you want to add pops of color to your garden. These plants come back on their own year after year, as long as they get the right amount of water and sunlight. Some low-maintenance native perennials that grow well in Florida’s unique climate include tickseed, blanket flowers, and blazing stars.

Leave Lawn Care to the Experts

When the weather in Florida gets hot and humid, the last thing you want to do is go outside to work on your yard. While we don’t provide landscaping services, you can rely on the lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control to keep your lawn green!

Our lawn care is backed by 30+ years of experience in developing treatments tailored to your specific grass. We’ll keep your lawn beautiful, and you’ll never have to lift a finger! Call us at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation, or get a free quote today!