Curtis Pest Control, Inc.

JUNE 2019

THE LATEST DIRT...

This month we will be applying a combination insecticide and nutritional supplement to your yard.

As we head into the summer months, it critical to your lawn that it receives roughly 2” of water per week. As of this writing, we are suffering from a rainfall deficit and our area is severely DRY!  In May our phones rang off the hook with client’s having brown areas in their lawns which turned out to be dry areas, not insect or disease issues. How do you know it’s dry? When you lightly step on your lawn do the blades spring back up or does your foot leave a distinct imprint? If you answer yes to this, it is dry. Are the blades folding in on themselves? St. Augustine grass blades have a vertical seam and when the grass is dry the blades fold inward to conserve what little water they have left. Folded blades are a telltale sign of the need for water. Do your lawn a favor and go outside early in the morning to check your grass.

Current regulations allow you to water with your sprinkler systems twice weekly.  That means you need to put out about an inch each time. Your grass would probably look better with about 3” a week, but our water problems do not allow that. It takes 625 gallons of water to apply one inch of water to 1,000 square feet of lawn. That ’s 3,125 gallons per application. Yes, that’s a lot of water, and yes, if you don’t have a well it is expensive which is why watering a small amount frequently is just as bad as no water at all. You end up using the same amount of water but it is ineffective because the water does not get down to the roots. Over time the roots will come up to the water and you will end up with a shallow/poor root system and a lawn with more weeds. You will not be happy! So make the right application to your lawn so that your money isn’t wasted. 

When we diagnose lawns with dry spots we are often told “but I had my irrigation company check my system and I was told it’s working perfectly.” Please remember that most companies are only checking to see if the system works, i.e. the control panel is properly functioning, the heads are in working order, etc. but they are not checking to see if you are receiving adequate water and/or coverage.

As we are still receiving service calls for what turns out to be watering issues, please take the time to check your irrigation system. I have compiled a checklist below which should help you figure out if your lawn is suffering from improper and/or inadequate irrigation. Please take a moment to go over the list, check your system and if need be, perform the “tuna can test”...your lawn will thank you!

When using an automatic irrigation system, DON’T JUST SET IT AND FORGET IT! While irrigation systems are definitely a great tool when used properly, it is critical to your lawn’s health that the system is working properly. Following is some tips for checking your system:

IRRIGATION MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

• The first is obvious, are the sprinklers working correctly? Is the head straight? Is the nozzle pointing the right way? Is the head plugged? Is the head turning?
• The next step may be a little bit harder to spot. Sometimes the incorrect nozzle is installed and the sprinkler is not putting out adequate water. You may not be able to tell this with the naked eye and you should perform the last step (“tuna can test”).
• Water pressure might also be an issue. Too high or too low will effect sprinkler performance.
• How far apart are the heads? If the heads are too far apart they may need to be moved or a larger nozzle installed.
• Still unsure? Perform the “tuna can test” by placing a few empty tuna sized cans throughout your yard, paying special attention to the brown spots/areas. Run your irrigation system and when finished, you should have 3/4” to 1” of water in each can. 

Lastly, remember that hand watering does NOT count against your allotted watering times. Per the St. Johns River Water Management District: “Irrigation using a hand-held hose equipped with a spray nozzle that can be adjusted so water flows only as needed is allowed anytime.”  They also state that the “Watering in of chemicals, including insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides when required by law, the manufacturer, or best management practices, is allowed anytime within 24 hours of application. Watering in of chemicals may not exceed ¼ inch of water per application except as otherwise required by law, the manufacturer, or best management practices.” 

So, if you still have “hot spots” in your yard that just aren’t receiving enough water with the twice weekly watering we are allowed, hand water those areas early in the morning or evening, before the heat sets in. 

ON THE CALENDAR THIS MONTH:

June 21 Summer Solstice 

June 16 Father's Day

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