They say it's great to have
'friends' in the business. That's especially true for the helpful
tips and hints our neighbors who know Lawns & Pools.
Thank you David, Steve &
Susan for sharing your expertise with us.
LAWN TIPS
Winter & Spring
Quarterly Newsletter
Turf Grass
Hello again, my name is David Lashley,
Owner/President of Enviro Pest Control, Inc., I have been in business
since 1985, and am State Certified Operator in Fla & Ga. In General
Household Pest Control, Rodent Control, Termite’s and other Wood
Destroying Organisms and my favorite, Lawn & Ornamentals.
This is the second quarterly issue that I
have been asked to do, and I want it to be as simple as possible.
Disclaimer: I do this letter solely
for information to homeowners, I do not except or solicit you the
homeowners or the association for money or kick backs of any kind! I
solely do this for the philosophy that I hope is adopted by this
community which is neighbor helping neighbor.
Remember, when you purchase a product,
you alone are responsible for following the label direction, misuse of
that product falls on you if you don’t read first the label and follow
safety instruction as well as use and disposal.
FIRST: Write down these numbers, these
are places to get the items I talk about.
Pro-Way Chemical 384-5390 { Jax } Lesco, Inc. 928-9933 { St. Johns Bluff
Rd. }
Lesco, Inc. 269-1171 { Orange Park } Lesco, Inc. 262-3888 { Phillips
Hwy. }
Fertilization:
In the spring, you have two choices, either weed & feed or straight
fertilizer, the choice is yours.
If you use a weed & feed I suggest Lesco Brand 20-0-20 for St. Augustine
Turf Grass, this will have the proper amount of atrazine {weed killer}
to kill & control most weeds. {This will do 10,000 sq. ft.} $ 19.25 per
bag
If you decide to go with fertilizer only I suggest Lesco Brand 24-2-11.
This will do {12,000 sq. ft.} also has 6% iron in it, gives it a good
green. $ 18.75 per bag
How many pallets of sod were put down ? 1 pallet = 500 sq.ft. or 20
pallets would be 10,000 sq. ft.
If you don’t know sq. ft. or how many pallets were put down simply
measure length x width, add up each section 1 by 1, then add altogether
for total sq. ft.
Either one, you choose best time to apply is the last week of February “
IF “ you are sure we will not have another frost.
Weeds:
There is only one I am going to suggest, only because using weed killer
can be hazardous to your lawn if you don’t apply it correctly.
Image, is a very forgiving herbicide {weed killer} use this to spot
spray only. You can buy this at Wal-Mart. At Lesco the smallest size is
11.5 oz for $ 114.00, which is a 7% concentrate; Wal-Mart has a 3%
concentrate for a lower price. Remember, this product is for spot spray
only of weeds !
Insects:
I suggest granular Talstar, it’s a good, insecticide for a broad range
of insects, the main one now and until mid summer is the mole cricket.
You what to kill these little suckers before they get to full adult
size, otherwise they are difficult to control; 1-Bag covers 8,000 sq.
ft. and is $ 26.85.
Watering:
I do see a lot of frost damage in the area, no trees a cold winter &
living further away from the river. This is to be expected. You should
water in the morning time, 3 times a week for 30 to 45 min per area,
minimum.
I hope this has helped, any further questions or comments please e-mail
me at david@enviropestinc.com, I can also answer questions on termites,
trees or shrubs.
It has been my pleasure. I remain
Sincerely,
David Lashley
P.S. I want to see how the turf grass grows in this year before I
comment on repairing damage, and the best and fastest way to correct
declined bare spots in turf grass.
Fall & Winter Quarterly Lawn
Newsletter
Turf Grass
Hello, my name is David Lashley,
Owner/President of Enviro Pest Control, Inc., I have been in
business since 1985. I am a State Certified Operator in Florida
& Georgia in General Household Pest Control, Rodent Control,
Termite’s and other Wood Destroying Organisms and Lawn &
Ornamentals.
This first quarterly issue that
I have been asked to do may be a little lengthy, but I want to
be as specific as possible and to answer all of your questions.
Disclaimer: 1) I do this letter
solely for information to homeowners, I do not expect or solicit
you, the homeowners, or the association for money or kick backs
of any kind! I solely do this for the philosophy that I hope is
adopted by this community which is neighbor helping neighbor. 2)
When you purchase a product, you alone are responsible for
following the label directions. Misuse of that product falls on
you. Read and follow all direction and safety instruction.
FIRST: Write
down these numbers. These are places in the upcoming months and
years I will be referring you to buy product from.
Pro-Way
Chemical 384-5390 { Jax } Lesco, Inc. 928-9933 {St. Bluff
Rd.}
Lesco, Inc.
269-1171 { Orange Park } Lesco, Inc. 262-3888 { Phillips
Hwy.}
It’s also hard
for me to say, well use this or that. When I am asked, “Can I
buy that at Home Depot?” I am not sure, because that is not
where I purchase products. So, I will also describe what the
product does so if you wish to purchase pesticides there you can
match them up.
This part is for
those folks that have a lawn service; it is real simple, if the
lawn looks terrible change service. There is no reason to pay
for a service that you are not satisfied with. If you just hired
that service and your lawn looked terrible to begin with, it
takes time to correct, take it from me, they don’t have a magic
wand in their truck. That’s why my company doesn’t do lawns any
more, our wand broke.
This is for
those do it yourself folks:
All the grass in the
neighborhood is Floratam St. Augustine Turf Grass, so if you are
asked you know. There is one Bermuda Lawn in the neighborhood,
for that person, be careful, the same weed killer in weed and
feed for St. Augustine will kill Bermuda, make sure you or your
service treats it properly.
By this time of
year, you should have put down a weed and feed. If not, you
still can, but it has to be applied no later than the end of
this month (November).
Use Lesco
20-0-20 weed & feed. Now the next question is how much area will
this cover ?
Take the first
number in the blend 20, divide it by 2 = 10, that is how many
sq. ft. it will cover, no more, no less. So 1 bag
= 10,000 sq. feet. Next, is how to determine how many sq. feet
you have?
If you do not know the
square footage or how many pallets were put down, simply measure
each section of your lawn , length x width, add up each section
one by one then add all together for total square feet.
1 pallet = 500
sq.ft. or 20 pallets would be 10,000 sq. ft.
The above calculation will
cover fertilization & weed control until mid February of 2005,
or last frost. At that time, put down same product, same way,
same amount.
Now bugs……….
In Northeast Florida,
believe it or not, there are only a few lawn-destroying insects
that we have to deal with at different times of the year. This
time of the year it’s sod web worms & army worms. If you walk
trough your yard and see a lot of small moths flying out of the
grass, those are the adults. They fly in, lay a small egg, it
hatches and at night a small worm climbs up to the top of the
blade of grass and starts munching away. The damage looks like
you mowed the grass way too short. GREAT NEWS, it will come
right back. Control: Apply an insecticide to kill worms,
2 applications of liquid, 7 days apart or 1 application of
Talstar Granular will take care of it. (See Talstar below)
Another insect
that is a common lawn pest year round is the mole cricket. They
really do more damage by chasing each other and feeding on the
eggs of the female than anything else, but, that’s another
subject.
One quick fact,
you sometimes will see where something has burred around the
edge on the driveway. What is it ? Mole Crickets. As the sun
comes out during the day, the concrete heats up. At night it is
like an electric blanket, so they tunnel where the warm soil is.
Be sure to treat along the edge of the concrete good.
What is Talstar? Talstar is
a no repellant insecticide; meaning that the insects are not
repelled by it but will go through, thus die. Talstar is also
FANTASTIC around the home for common house pests like earwigs
and roaches.
Talstar is a
long lasting product. Remember, liquid insecticide breaks down
with UVL light, and moisture. A liquid application only lasts a
few days. Talstar is the best, longest lasting insecticide I can
recommend for your use. All you do is put it in your fertilizer
spreader and walk around, simple.
Lesco, 20-0-20 $
19.85 plus tax
Talstar 26.85
plus tax covers 8,000 sq. ft.
10,000 sq.
ft. 50 lbs bag 50 lbs bag.
Pro-Way Chemical
25lb bag Talstar 22.00 plus tax
Pint of Image $ 70.50 plus
tax. This is a very forgiving herbicide for those of you with
stubborn weeds, crabgrass or dollar weed. Only 1 oz per gallon
of water, for 1,000 sq. ft., spot spray only.
Watering: Even though it
is Fall and almost Winter, it does not mean that you shut off
the sprinkler system. Just as you water in the summer months you
need to water in the winter as well. Soon the grass will turn
brown and we all will think that it is dormant. On the contrary,
it is alive and well. The root system is very much alive. When
it gets cold, the wind blows, just like your skin would dry out
and crack, the grass will dry out and get winter damage.
Control: Water at least 3
times a week for 30 min per zone. Also, a good shot of potash
during the winter will feed the root system, making it stronger
to withstand a hard winter. All of this done, you will see a
vast improvement in the quality of your grass once spring has
arrived.
I hope you find
this information helpful. If you have any questions or comments
please e-mail me at
david@enviropestinc.com
or just come down and ask me a question. I am at 10598 Grayson
Court. I can also answer questions on Termite’s, and trees &
shrubs.
It has been my
pleasure.
Sincerely,
David Lashley
MOWING TIPS
Lawn Mowing Tips
By: David Lashley
Mowing is one of the primary lawn maintenance practices essential for a
good quality lawn. Mowing is the process, which creates a lawn rather
than a pasture or field. A smooth, dense turf surface is attained from
frequent and regular cutting of the grass leaf blades at a constant
height.
Mowing changes the metabolism and appearance of grass. Immediately after
mowing plant respiration increase and root growth temporarily ceases.
The two main components of mowing are cutting height and frequency. Both
of these factors are dependent on the turf grass species and level of
lawn maintenance. Several other practices involving the use of mowers
are also important in creating a quality lawn.
Height of mowing:
The optimum cutting height is determined by the turf grass growth habit
and leaf width. A grass that spreads horizontally can usually be mowed
shorter than an upright-growing, bunch-type grass. Grasses with narrow
blades can generally be mowed closer than grasses with wide blades.
Bermuda grass is mowed the shortest of the Florida turf grasses because
of its numerous narrow leaf blades and low growth habit. On the other
hand, bahia grass needs to be mowed the highest of the Florida turf
grasses to produce a good quality lawn because of its open, upright
growth habit.
Proper mowing height is important in creating a good quality lawn
because it encourages a dense stand of turf grass. A dense turf keeps
out weeds through competition for sunlight and nutrients. A weak thin
turf allows seeds to germinate and grow, that are always in the soil
waiting to emerge.
Turf grasses can be mowed at heights other than their optimum if the
management practices are properly altered. Cutting turf below the
optimum height requires production of enough leaf blades to keep a dense
green lawn. To accomplish this, more fertilizer and water need to be
applied to stimulate growth. The disadvantages of low mowing heights are
increased pest problems and faster than normal thatch accumulation.
Cutting heights can get too low and turf quality will be reduced because
of severe defoliation. Mowing turf too low probably ruins more lawns
than any other turf management practice.
Cutting turf at the high end of the recommended height range requires a
reduction in the level of management. Less water and fertilizer are
required since there are more than enough grass blades to give a good
appearance. Also, by reducing the amount of water applied, plants will
develop more extensive root systems and thatch accumulation will be
reduced. Other advantages of a high cutting height include better pest
tolerance and better survival from environmental stresses such as cold
and drought.
Frequency of Mowing:
The growth rate of the lawn determines how frequently it needs to be
mowed. The growth rate is influenced by weather conditions, level of
management, and grass species. The slowest growth rates occur in the
winter or under low fertility and irrigation, while the fastest growth
rates occur in the summer or under high fertility and watering
practices. Bermuda grass is a rapidly growing grass compared to zoysia
grass. Low-maintenance grasses like bahia grass and centipede grass are
frequently mowed just to remove seedheads rather than to cut leaf
blades.
The best recommendation on mowing frequency is to determine the need for
mowing based on growth of the turf. Mow often enough so that no more
than one-third the blade height is removed. Example: If you’re St.
Augustinegrass lawn is mowed when it grows to a height of four inches.
The grass plant metabolism is stressed every time the lawn is mowed, but
removing only one-third of the leaf blade at each mowing can minimize
the stress. It is important to always leave as much leaf surface as
possible for photosynthesis to provide food for re-growth.
Clippings Removal:
Leaf clippings result from mowing and a common problem is what to do
with them. Contrary to popular belief, clippings do not contribute to
the thatch layer; stems, rhizomes {fungi}. On most lawns, clipping
should be returned to help recycle nutrients to our soil. If the lawn is
mowed frequently enough, and on a regular schedule, clipping cause very
few if any problem.
Mowing Equipment:
Lawn mowers are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles with
numerous features. The two basic types are the reel mower and the rotary
mowers. More recently, flail and string mowers have been introduced.
Most mowers can be obtained as push or self-propelled, which is a must
out here….. The choice of mower often depends on personal preference.
Points to consider when buying a mower are the size of the lawn,
turfgrass species, and level of lawn maintenance.
Rotary mowers are the most popular because of their low cost, easy
maneuverability, and simple maintenance. A large motor is required to
horizontally turn the blade. Rotary mowers can pose a safety problem if
improperly used. Most rotary mowers cannot mow lower than one inch and
are best used for higher mowing heights. The blade needs to be
occasionally sharpened and balanced for the best possible cut.
String mowers are similar to rotary mowers, but the blade has been
replaced with a monofilament line. This is a definite safety feature
when operating the mower in some locations. A high-speed motor is needed
in these mowers to spin the line fast enough for a clean cut. String
mowers are most often used for trimming and hard-to-mow areas.
Normally, just a moderate priced, good brand name mulching mower will
work just fine, and guy’s make sure you wife knows how to operate it as
well, just remind her, it is her yard too…….
Good Mowing Practices
The following procedures and precautions should be followed for safe,
good mowing practices:
-
Pick up all stones,
sticks and other debris before mowing to avoid damaging the mower or
injuring someone with flying objects.
-
Never mow wet turf
with a rotary mower because clippings can clog the machine. Mow only
when turf is dry.
-
Mow in a different
direction every time the lawn is cut. This helps prevent wear
patterns, reduces the grain {grass laying over the same direction},
and reduces the possibility of scalping.
-
Do not remove
clippings. If clumping occurs, distribute these by remowing or by
lightly raking.
-
Check your mower
every time it is used.
-
Adjust cutting height
by setting the mower on a driveway and using a ruler to measure the
distance between the ground and the blade.
-
Never fill a hot
mover with gasoline.
-
Always wear heavy
leather shoes when mowing the lawn; it will save your feet.
GREAT POOL TIPS
Steve Yates Pool Service
February, 2005
Dear Neighbors:
Total Alkalinity is an often over looked factor in pool water balance.
Alkalinity can have many different affects on pool water and equipment.
Alkalinity has a large effect on the PH level. If your Alkalinity is not
in the proper range PH level will not stay in the proper range. During
recent hurricanes pool owners may have experience PH bounce. This is a
condition where Alkalinity is low. Every time it rains or makeup water
is added the Ph changes.
Low Alkalinity can damage
your pool. Vinyl liner pools are especially affected by low Alkalinity.
Low Alkalinity can cause the liner to wrinkle and draw the liner out of
its mounting channel. Prolonged low Alkalinity in gunite pools can cause
etching. High Alkalinity can cause scaling on the pool walls and in
plumbing and equipment.
The Most important thing associated with Alkalinity levels is chemical
efficacy. All chemicals have a PH and ALK range that must be maintained
for them to work. If the ALK is not right the PH will not stay right.
This can have a large affect on chemical efficacy. For example chlorine
can loose up to 60%of its effectiveness if PH drops to low. The same is
true with Algacides. If you have a green pool or some form of Algae,
Algacides will not work unless the Alkalinity and PH are in proper
range. These ranges if PH and Alkalinity are not always the same from
algacide to algacide. As always read the label and follow manufactures
directions.
Alkalinity is raised using
Sodium Bicarbonate, which is available at all pool suppliers. Vinyl
liner owners use extra caution when adding Sodium Bicarbonate it should
be pre-mixed with water before adding to pool. If Sodium Bicarbonate is
allowed to stand in powder form on a vinyl liner it can bleach it out or
stain.
To make long story short
when pool problems arise check the Alkalinity first. Alkalinity first
has long been a catch phrase for the pool maintenance business and
should be for homeowners too. As always safety first, follow all
manufactures directions.
This tip provided to you
from Steve Yates Pool Service. We can be reached either by email
sssyates@comcast.net or 781-1769
October 7, 2004
Dear Neighbors:
Mustard Algae is the most common Algae found in swimming pools.
It appears as shading on the walls and floors of the pools. It can
appear as a light green to a golden brown shaded area. Mustard Algae
usually starts in shaded areas. All Algae protects itself with a slimy
coating. This coasting may be present before the Algae is even visible.
Almost all algae treatments require that you brush the Algae out
break areas as part of the treatment. This breaks the protective
coating on the Algae’s and allows the chemicals to penetrate and do the
job. Most Mustard Algaecides are based on Sodium Bromide. Some examples
would be (Yellow Treat, Yellow Free, Yellow Out, etc.). These Algaecides
work by speeding up the reactions with chlorine in the water. Its is
critical when using these products to double your stabilize chlorine
dosage during the treatment period. As always follow manufactures
directions and be careful, remember safety first. Look for more tips in
the future.
This tip provided to you from Steve Yates Pool Service and Good Stuff
for Pools. We can be reached either by email
sssyates@comcast.net or 781-1769. For
those folks that take care of their own pools there will be chemical
delivery to selected areas to your door in the near future.
Next tip: (Total Alkalinity a starting point)
Sincerely,
Steve & Susan Yates