Curtis Pest Control, Inc.

This is the time of year we often hear from clients that think they either have an infestation of lawn destroying insects or disease and most often we find the issue is a case of improper watering. Please remember your lawn needs at least 45-60 minutes per zone twice weekly—which should amount to 3/4” to 1” for your entire yard with each watering. The quickest and easiest way to verify that your lawn’s problem areas are receiving adequate water is to perform the “tuna can test”.  Simply place a few empty tuna cans—or any container of the same depth—around your lawn, particularly in any troubled areas, run your irrigation and then measure the water level in the container. You want to have 3/4” to 1” of water in each container. If you find that isn’t the case, adjust the length of your system’s running time to ensure that amount is being applied to your lawn and/or make any adjustments or repairs to any malfunctioning sprinkler heads. Be sure to keep a watchful eye on your turf to see if there are any “hot spots” such as turf located in direct sun, by walkways or areas receiving high traffic, that may require more water than others.  Those areas may sometimes require hand-watering in addition to regularly scheduled irrigation, which is permissible at any time—though you do want to hand water early morn or late day, to avoid quick evaporation.

Should you need maintenance or repairs performed, please remember that when using an irrigation company most are only checking to see if your sprinkler system and all of the heads are properly working. They are not checking that you are receiving the correct coverage/amount, which is why it is so important for you to take the time check it yourself. In these record high temps, and often dry conditions, proper irrigation is more crucial than ever. The lawn pest control and fertilization service we provide is only 1/3 of the equation in you achieving a healthy, beautiful lawn. The correct cultural practices of proper irrigation and mowing (height and frequency) are the other 2/3 and are up to you. We truly want you to have the best lawn possible, after all, your lawn is our best advertisement.

If you still suspect chinch bugs or sod web worms, here is what you need to know: 

Chinch bugs damage turf by piercing and sucking the grass plant juices. The damage appears as areas of  gradually yellowing and/or dead grass, especially in areas where heat is radiated into the grass from sidewalks or roadways.  To reveal a chinch bug infestation, find a suspected yellowing patch of grass, part the blades and check the stems and soil surface for them.

Young chinch bugs are a reddish-orange color with a white band, no wings, and are very small in size. As they mature they grow white-colored wings that can be either short or long and their bodies turn black and have a shape resembling a capsule.  If you are unable to spot them with the naked eye, another method we recommend is the “flotation technique”.  Take a metal coffee can with the top and bottom cut-off, push it 2 –3 inches into the soil of the suspected area, and fill with water.  Keep the can filled for 5 minutes and any chinch bugs should float to the surface. Repeat these steps over several areas.

If you suspect an infestation in your lawn, contact us as soon as possible. To minimize/curtail the damage keep your lawn well watered until we are able to treat your lawn. Want to learn more about them? Go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in383.

Sod webworms appear in your lawn as moths. There is no control for the moths, but if you do see them, watch your lawn for subsequent damage. They feed at night and the damage to your lawn appears as scalped areas. The good news is they do not destroy the roots so the damage is mainly cosmetic and with the proper treatment, your turf will recover as quickly as your grass grows. If you suspect damage from them, please contact our office as soon as possible so that we can make the appropriate insecticide application to your lawn. Want to learn more about these pests? Go to https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in968. 

IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH...

For a lot of us, the mere thought of gardening in the hottest month of the year is ridiculous, but if you’re an avid gardener who is anxious to plant a traditional vegetable, herb or annual garden this month, these plants are your best bet this time of year: 

Vegetables:  Beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Collards, Corn, Cowpeas, Cucumbers, Celery, Eggplant, Leaf  Lettuce, Mustard, Okra, Onions, Peppers, Pumpkin, Squash Tomatoes, Turnips and Watermelon.

Herbs: Basil, Chives, Dill, Mint, Oregano and Sweet Marjoram.

Flowers: Asters, Balsam, Begonias, Black-Eyed Susan Vine, Blue Daze, Cat's Whiskers, Coleus, Cosmos, Cockscombs, Dianthus, Forget-Me-Nots, Gaillardia, Golden Globe, Impatiens, Marigolds, Melapodium, Moon Vine, Pentas, Periwinkles, Petunias, Phlox, Porterweed, Portulaca, Purslane, Salvia, Scabiosa, Strawflowers, Sunflowers, Tithonias, Torenia, Verbenas and Zinnias.