Wendy Holtz, Author at Service Choice

5 Ways to Care for a Florida Lawn in the Fall

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.

Does Overwatering Cause Brown Patch Fungus?

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!

What Are Caribbean Crazy Ants and How Can I Get Rid of Them?

Have you ever heard of Caribbean Crazy Ants? These vicious little creatures are one of the newest nuisance pests in South Florida—and they’re wreaking havoc on both residential and commercial properties alike. Known for their erratic and unpredictable behavior, Caribbean Crazy Ants can be quite challenging to get rid of. Read on to learn all about these troublesome critters and how you can effectively eliminate them.

What are Caribbean Crazy Ants?

Caribbean Crazy Ants, also known as Nylanderia pubens, are tiny, reddish-brown ants that measure only about 2 to 3 mm long. They are native to the Caribbean Islands but have since migrated to other parts of the world, including South Florida.

Caribbean Crazy Ants are considered invasive due to their rapid rate of reproduction and high adaptability to various environments. They’re attracted to sugary foods, plants, and insects—and they can easily find their way into homes and buildings through cracks and crevices.

Learn More: DIY-ing Pest Control – Is It Worth It?

Signs of Caribbean Crazy Ant Infestation

How do you know if you have a Caribbean Crazy Ant problem on your hands? Some telltale signs of infestation include the presence of a large number of tiny ants crawling on walls, floors, and surfaces, especially in the kitchen and bathroom areas. You may also notice that your food items have been disturbed, and there may be small piles of dirt or dust near baseboards and walls. When in doubt, call in your trusted pest control experts to determine what pest you’re dealing with and the best way to treat the problem.

How to Get Rid of Caribbean Crazy Ants

Getting rid of Caribbean Crazy Ants can be difficult on your own since traditional ant baits don’t work for these pests. Here are some tips and strategies to get an infestation under control:

Find and seal off all entry points, including cracks, crevices, and holes in the walls and foundation.
Trim back any overgrown bushes, shrubs, or trees that may provide nesting sites for the ants.
Use insecticides carefully and only as directed by the manufacturer. Avoid using toxic chemicals that could pose a risk to your family and pets.
Consider using non-toxic home remedies such as boric acid, baking soda, and vinegar to deter and kill the ants.
Seek the services of licensed pest control experts who can create customized treatment plans that are effective and long-lasting.

Learn More: 4 Invasive Ants in South Florida & Why They’re a Problem

Don’t Let Caribbean Crazy Ants Overrun Your Home—Call Service Choice of South Florida Today!

Caribbean Crazy Ants may be small, but they can cause significant damage to your property and invade your personal space. DIY methods rarely work against these pests, and the best way to ensure complete eradication is to call in the pest control experts at Service Choice of South Florida. Our team of trained professionals will assess your unique situation and provide tailored solutions that are both effective and safe for your family and pets. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to say goodbye to these nuisance pests for good!

5 Tips to Avoid Chinch Bug Lawn Damage

Tired of seeing brown patches on your lawn? It might be due to the damage caused by chinch bugs. These tiny insects measure only about the size of a pencil eraser, but they can cause major damage to your lawn if you don’t deal with an infestation quickly and efficiently. Chinch bugs are a common pest throughout South Florida, but with the right strategies in place, you can remove a chinch bug infestation and keep it from coming back. Read on to discover five simple tips that help you avoid chinch bug lawn damage and keep your lawn looking lush and green all year round.

1. Keep your Lawn Healthy

The first step to avoiding chinch bug lawn damage is to keep your lawn healthy. A healthy lawn can better withstand the damage caused by chinch bugs. Make sure to fertilize regularly, water deeply, and mow at the right height. Avoid overwatering your lawn, as it can create an ideal environment for chinch bugs to thrive.

Learn More: What Your Lawn Is Telling You—Common Problems & Solutions

2. Monitor the Signs of chinch Bug Damage

Keep an eye out for the signs of chinch bug damage. The most common signs of a chinch bug problem are:

Yellowing or browning of grass: chinch bug damage often starts with patches of grass turning yellow or brown, indicating stress and damage to the turf.
Irregularly shaped dead patches of turf: The affected areas of turf may have distinct boundaries, forming irregular patches of dead or dying grass.
Presence of chinch bugs: You might observe small, dark-colored insects with white markings on their wings within the affected areas, especially near the soil surface.

3. Use Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is an effective and natural way to control chinch bugs. Using this soap will not only get rid of chinch bugs, but it will also prevent them from coming back in the future. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label carefully and spray the soap in the areas where chinch bugs are present.

4. Practice Good Lawn Care

Good lawn care practices can go a long way in preventing chinch bug damage. Aerate your lawn once a year to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. Mulch your grass clippings instead of bagging them to create a natural fertilizer. Use organic lawn care products to avoid harsh chemicals that can harm your lawn.

Learn More: Can chinch Bugs Be Transferred by Lawnmowers?

Contact a Reputable Pest Control Company

The very best way to deal with a chinch bug infestation is to contact a reputable pest control company as soon as possible. Remember, though, that not all pest control companies are created equal, and most of them don’t know how to treat chinch bug damage. Service Choice of West Palm Beach understands how to treat chinch bugs and keep them away from your property, so they stop doing damage to your lawn.

Keep chinch Bugs Away From Your Lawn With the Help of Service Choice

If you suspect chinch bugs have moved into your lawn, don’t wait to call the pest control experts at Service Choice of West Palm Beach. We’ll remove a chinch bug infestation and keep these damaging pests from returning. Call us today at (561) 734-9269 for your free consultation and say goodbye to chinch bugs for good!