Pest Control in the Bay Area

There is nothing quite like a beautiful lawn. It is the backdrop you enjoy when relaxing on your porch, deck, patio, or balcony. It is where you set up a volleyball net and invite friends to play. It is the location for backyard cookouts, wedding receptions, birthday parties, graduations, and other gatherings. That is why it is important to keep it from being destroyed by all the many critters we have here in Florida, from the tiniest bug to the largest wildlife pest. Pest control in the bay area.

When bugs and wildlife come into our yards, they dig tunnels, nibble on ornamentals, gnaw on the bark of trees, and feed on vegetables in gardens and fruit in bushes and trees. But, worse than all of this, they can do a real number on a lawn. They destroy root systems when they tunnel under lawn turf, and create dead pathways when they cut through the grass. Whether you have an above ground pest or a below ground pest, it is important to recognize the signs, and properly identify what creature is doing the damage. Let’s take a quick look at some of the repeat offenders that invade our yards and damage our lawns, as well as how Alexander’s can alleviate these pest issues.

Grubs

During the rainy season, the adult beetles lay eggs in the moist soil. Within a month, the eggs hatch into larvae called white grubs. Those grubs, just like human teenagers, are voracious and are always eating. Unfortunately, their favorite snacks happen to be the roots of our tough Florida grasses.

That means, starting sometime in the fall, you may start to see dead patches of grass in the middle of your yard and some of your plants, especially ornamentals, may start to wilt or die out quickly.

Certain lawn areas are more susceptible to grub infestations than others. Sunny west and south facing lawn areas are favorites for grubs because the soil stays warm as they feed. Additionally, excessively watered lawn areas at the beginning of the summer will attract adult beetles to lay eggs.

Chinch Bugs

Since chinch bugs feed on and kill the grass, a homeowner’s first sign of chinch bugs is usually the appearance of round yellow or dying patches of grass in their lawn. As their host plant dies, chinch bugs move to neighboring grass plants to continue feeding creating dead patches that get larger over time. How fast the dead patches grow depends on the chinch bug infestation and overall health of the lawn.

It is important to note that a chinch bug infestation is often confused with a water drought issue. As mentioned above, the chinch bugs inject a poison that stops all water movement within the grass blades. If the grass does not green up after watering it, or if you have been watering your grass on a habitual basis, you can determine you do not have a drought issue. A drought issue would more than likely cause consistent damage across your lawn whereas a chinch bug infestation portrays various patches of damage to your lawn. Early signs of chinch bug infestation shows yellowing grass as the grass begins to die. Once it is dead, it will turn brown.

Prevention and Solutions

Fortunately, at Alexander’s, we know how to take care of grubs, chinch bugs and the countless other pests that roam Florida lawns looking for their next grassy victim. Our Professional Pest Control Services include weekly visits, performed by Certified Pest Control Operators. We can create custom programs that best serve your property and its specific needs. In addition, all of our programs focus on long-term prevention control as opposed to quick fixes like some companies take.

Alexander’s Property Maintenance is a full-service commercial landscape company serving commercial properties in West Central Florida. We focus on quality, consistency, and reliability for all our clients. We do it right the first time. Check out our website to see what we have to offer or to contact us for an estimate. Give us a call at the number listed on our website most relevant to your location.