Is your lawn suffering from:

• Pests (Termites, Chinch Bugs, etc…)
• Diseases
• Brown patches or gray spots
• Weeds
• Wild looking trees & bushes

Fort Myers lawn care is going to be in your future!

Download your free copy of the “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood” eBook today to learn about:

1. Lawn Care – The Curse of the Chinch Bugs
2. Solving Your Pest Control Nightmares
3. Lawn Care – Get Those Grub Worms Before it’s Too Late
4. Lawn Care Service – Ugly Looking Blades? It May be Gray Leaf Spot
5. Lawn Problems – Brown Patch Disease
6. Weed Management – Know Your Enemy: Broadleaf, Grassy, and Sedge Weeds
7. Practical Irrigation Techniques for SW Florida
8. Buy a Bundle and Save Big – Package Lawn Care with Pest Control & Termite Service
9. Proper Lawn Care for Southwest Florida
10. My Grass is Greener. Now I Need Shrub Care!
11. Get Proper Tree & Shrub Care

You can learn more helpful tips from Larue Pest Management on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. To get lawn care, Fort Myers pest control or termite control that you can trust, feel free to contact us or call us at (800) 314-8813.

- Keith

This is the 11th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

Palm trees can be a great addition to a yard. They can frame a space or be ornamental when standing alone. Many varieties are ideal for planting in southwest Florida:

• Buccaneer
• Cabbage
• Florida thatch
• Keys thatch
• Needle
• Paurotis
• Royal
• Saw palms

The most common concern for homeowners with palm trees is pruning. A properly pruned palm should have a nice crown of fronds – not just one or two sticking straight up towards the sky.

Avoid the temptation to over-prune, which can leave your trees vulnerable to disease and palm weevils. This is where tree & shrub care is helpful.

Some palms don’t require pruning at all! Many mature trees will naturally drop their leaves when they’re dead and brown. Just be sure not to leave dead fronds on a tree when its falling palms could cause injuries. Before a hurricane, remove dead palm fronds so they don’t become harmful projectiles when winds pick up. Only remove dead fronds.

Sometimes a living palm frond can look dead – when it’s suffering from a vitamin K deficiency. In that case, it’s better to leave it on the tree. Dead fronds will droop way down, whereas nutrient deficient stalks will look half-dead or discolored.

Clean your tools before pruning. Diseases can be transferred from plant to plant on your clippers. Be careful when you prune. There may be some unfriendly animals residing in your palms – like rats, snakes, spiders and scorpions. If you’d rather not mess with those guys, you can always call Larue Pest Management for help with tree & shrub care.

If you don’t want to deal with falling coconuts, trim the flowers off your palm before they bloom. It won’t hurt the tree.

Larue’s tree & shrub care program controls palm bud weevils and also ensures that your palm trees are properly fertilized. Be sure to ask about their citrus care services too.

Now that you’ve learned how to properly care for your lawn, trees, and shrubs, you’ll know what it feels like to be on the other side of the fence where the grass is greener. You’ll be the envy of the town when your neighbors see your beautiful, healthy yard!

You can learn more helpful tips from Larue Pest Management on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Get Naples lawn care that you can trust with Larue, feel free to contact us or call us at (800) 314-8813.

- Keith

This is the 10th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

There are a wide variety of shrubs that can grow successfully in southwest Florida. For a beautiful accent to you lawn, remember these three fundamentals to shrub care:

Light

Make sure there is enough light, or your plants could wither and die by failing to photosynthesize enough food for themselves. For some species, you’ll want to make sure there’s not too much light – which could make conditions hot and unfavorable.

Space

Give your shrubs enough room to grow. If they’ve reached a mature height, you’ll want to prune them every year to maintain a clean look. It’s important not to prune in late summer or fall on tropical varieties that are stressed by winter temperatures.

Mulch

Lay organic mulch in your landscaping areas at least once every year, get Cape Coral lawn care and you can stop worrying today! It not only improves the aesthetics of the beds, it also helps them stay healthy and weed-free. Check at least once a month for signs of insects.

If you can master those three fundamentals to shrub care, you’re well on your way to beautiful landscaping. You’ll still want to watch for unusual circumstances – like winter freezes. In north and central Florida, freezes are common and usually occur every year. But in south Florida, it’s rare for temperatures to fall so low. If they do, your tropical and subtropical plants could die if not properly protected. Use a sheet, quilt, or plastic tarp to cover plants. Covers should not touch the plants themselves and should extend all the way to the ground. Remember to take them up in the morning if it’s sunny outside. If your plants are potted, you can simply move them indoors during a freeze.

Larue’s tree & shrub care program provides fertilization and controls unwanted insects and certain leaf diseases that affect Florida landscapes. Contact us or call us at (800) 314-8813 today and get Cape Coral lawn care and a free inspection!

- Keith

This is the 9th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

With the right attention, any lawn can be beautiful. By learning how to properly plan for and care for your yard, you can keep it thick and healthy for years to come.

Selecting the Right Grass

If you are just starting out, it’s imperative to choose…

…a grass that will work with the local climate and conditions. Here in southwest Florida, common grasses are St. Augustine grass or zoysia grass. Some people may prefer the look of Bermuda grass or bahia grass, but growing it in a shaded area is not recommended. If your lawn is particularly shady, it will be prone to thin grass. Weeds are more likely to invade a lawn where the native grass is not robust. If you aren’t sure what particular soil and shade levels your grass will tolerate, call Larue Pest Management for advice.

An Alternative to Harsh Chemicals

Herbicides and fungicides definitely have their place in your Fort Myers lawn care arsenal. But if you keep an eagle eye on your lawn, you’ll avoid over-using them. When only a small number of weeds are visible in your lawn, get a jump on the problem by pulling them out by hand. You might be surprised how effective and easy it can be. If you’re careful, hand-pulling also eliminates the problem of spreading disease or weed seeds with your mower or weed whacker.

Avoid Damage or Compacted Soil

Heavy traffic – whether by foot or by car – can damage lawns. When grass is smashed down, it doesn’t have room to breath. The blades of grass can’t extract as much oxygen. Compacted soil creates further problems when water can’t drain away – leaving grass vulnerable to disease and weeds that thrive on tight turf.

Look Beyond the Lawn

Do you have footpaths, landscaping, flowerbeds or other non-grassy areas? These features – while lovely – may be a source of weeds or insects in your lawn. Go the extra mile and buy synthetic mats with herbicide underneath beds. Use mulch or a reasonable alternative to keep things in order. The mulch will block the light from reaching the soil, preventing weed germination.

Prevent – or Prepare to be Patient

Once you are invaded by weeds or pests, you have an uphill battle. Heavily damaged turf takes much longer to recover than grass with minor problems. Preventative measures like having your irrigation and fertilization program checked by an expert can help you avoid mistakes.

If you’re ready for Fort Myers lawn care, shrub care and irrigation services that will have your yard look like the best in the neighborhood, then contact us or give us a call at (800) 314-8813 and get your free inspection today!

- Keith

This is the 8th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

Cape Coral Pest control for your lawn is important, but we understand that you want to keep your costs as low as possible. If you suffer from…

• Chinch bugs
• Sod webworms
• Gray leaf spots
• Brown patch disease
• Any type of weed

You may want to consider the Larue Lawn Care Program. But pests aren’t just a problem in your yard. They may be present inside your home as well.

You can save money and time, with a bundled termite service package that also includes pest control and termite protection.

Do you have ants, roaches, silverfish, spiders, fleas or rodents? These critters can be even more annoying than those in your lawn. But a bundled service approach will get rid of both – for less!

If you also have a termite problem, you can save even more by combining lawn care, interior termite control and termite removal. A small investment in preventative services can prevent you from having major financial headaches in the future. Termites also can cause thousands of dollars in damage, making your home unsafe or impossible to sell. Their bug friends, both indoor pests and lawn critters, are a major nuisance and a health hazard. Whether they ruin your home or lawn, bugs are bad news.

By protecting yourself with a bundled service plan from Larue Pest Management, you can prevent problems indoors and out. You’ll also save time from needing to find, research and schedule multiple providers. Get your termite service today!

Struggling with roaches, termites, mosquitoes or any other pests? Want to take advantage of the savings with Larue’s bundled termite service? Request a free inspection today. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back. Give us a call at (800) 314-8813 or contact us online today!

- Keith

This is the 7th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

A beautiful lawn can be the pride of the neighborhood, but keeping it that way isn’t always easy. Maintaining proper irrigation levels to support a lush lawn is a Herculean task for most Floridian homeowners. Too much or too little water will leave your grass vulnerable to insects, weeds and other problems. To complicate matters, there are often restrictions on how often you can irrigate.

How much is enough?

There is no “one-size-fits” all recommendation for irrigation. There are many factors that will impact your decision. If you have a new lawn or other landscaping, it will need lots of water to become established. The amount of rainfall will also impact your watering needs. Florida is known for dry winters and wet summers, so your irrigation technique should account for the seasonal change. Other considerations include the type of soil in your yard, the amount of sunlight it receives, and other factors specific to your area.

You should also be mindful of the environmental impact of irrigation. Obviously water use reduces the levels of Florida’s water-table. But the wrong watering schedule can also cause your lawn to produce hazardous run-off – if fertilizers and pesticides are washed away during irrigation.

How can you be a good steward of water resources and maintain the health of your lawn? Consider having a professional irrigation system installed. If you already have one, consider upgrades like rain sensors.

Keep your sprinklers in good repair, so water isn’t wasted from leaks or busted sprinkler heads. If you don’t already have a Naples lawn care plan, it might be worth investing in one. Make sure you get your free inspection as soon as possible!

A professional irrigation system can give you the best results for both the environment and your yard – when timed to comply with local laws and optimized for your lawn conditions.

Larue Pest Management offers bi-monthly irrigation maintenance services and when you refer other customers to Larue, you can earn points to shop for goods online by joining the Larue Rewards Program, just contact us or give us a call at (800) 314-8813.

- Keith

This is the 6th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

A weed is any plant (that’s not grass) that doesn’t belong in your yard. But knowing the specific type of weeds that are plaguing your yard can help you fight back. Once you figure out if you have broadleaf, grassy or sedge weeds, you can pick the best strategy for your yard. Knowing what weeds have infected your lawn in the past will also help you to plan the right weed management strategy for the future.

What plan do you need?

Broadleaf weeds are usually the easiest to spot – and their name gives them away. They have broad leaves that are flat and wide. They aren’t closely related to grass at all, so they will look noticeably different. Many broadleaf weeds have showy flowers – like clover or dandelion.

Grassy weeds can be difficult to identify. Grassy weeds have hollow, rounded stems and only one seed leaf. Their joints (or “nodes”) are hard and closed. The leaf blades will be much longer than wide. In Florida, crabgrass and goosegrass are common grassy weeds. If you can’t identify these weeds, Larue Pest Management can help.

Sedge weeds have flower-bearing stems – but the “flowers” may look more like spiky burrs. The flowers (such as they are) will be extremely small and numerous. You will see them on top of the stem. Their stems are usually triangular; the leaves are arranged in groups of three. In that respect, it may look similar to normal grass.

Weed Maintenance

Keep your lawn thick and healthy. Remember, weeds need empty space to flourish. A thick turf won’t allow weeds any room to grow. Healthy grass will keep the underlying soil in the shade, which prevents sunlight from reaching the weed seeds.

Look at the areas surrounding your yard. If there is a ditch or area filled with weeds, it may be the source of your problems. Extending your weed management to these areas may help. Always wash mowers or weed whackers that were used in a weed-infected area. These tools can spread seeds of the weeds throughout your yard. Also, be careful when disposing of yard clippings.

Research herbicides that are designed for your specific type of weed. Always be sure to follow the instructions exactly to the letter. These chemicals can be very dangerous when used incorrectly. The timing and application of herbicide must also be performed exactly as the instructions suggest, otherwise they may be ineffective.

If you need further help identifying your weeds or with weed management, you can contact us online or call us at (800) 314-8813. For Fort Myers lawn care, shrub care or lawn care that you can trust, Larue Pest Management is here for you! Join the Larue Rewards Program today and start earning points towards online goods!

- Keith

This is the 5th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

Brown Patch Disease is a confusing name. Many bugs, critters or diseases might cause you to have lawn problems, but Brown Patch Disease is caused by…

…one specific fungus. Brown Patch Disease is also known by the names “Large patch” or “Rhizoctonia blight”. St. Augustine grass is the most common victim of Brown Patch Disease, but all types of warm-season turf grasses can be affected.

The fungus infects blades of grass at their base. There’s a soft, dark rot that has a nasty odor. You’ll notice that the grass looks wilted where the stem meets the blade. If you pull on the grass, it will come off easily.

This lawn problems first symptoms may appear as a small circle of yellow grass. As the disease progresses, the blades will become redder, then brown, then straw-colored. As Brown Patch spreads, you might notice a green center, surrounded by a ring of brown grass.

Brown Patch Disease can crop up any time temperatures are below 80 degrees, but it really thrives when the thermometer dips below 70. The fungus can’t survive temperatures over 90 degrees, so you generally don’t have to worry about it during the summer months. Brown Patch Disease also needs high humidity and rainy days to flourish.

Brown Patch can affect any lawn, but a yard with heavy thatch or too much nitrogen (from fertilizers) will be at a higher risk of contracting the disease.
Since a lawn mower can spread the fungus, it’s important to mow your healthy lawn before moving on to the diseased area. Be sure to wash the grass clippings off the mower blades before your next use.

Because Brown Patch Disease is at its peak when the weather is cold and grass isn’t growing quickly, it may take a long time for your yard to recover.

The treatment for Brown Patch Disease – fungicide – can only stop the disease from spreading. There really isn’t a solution to make your grass grow faster.

If you are having lawn problems or perhaps need some termite control, termite protection or termite service, Larue Pest Management is the solution! Feel free to contact us online or give us a call at (800) 314-8813. The Larue Rewards Program offers you great rewards, sign up today!

- Keith

This is the 4th installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

Gray leaf spot is exactly what it sounds like – a discoloration of gray on a blade of grass, sometimes bordered by a dark green ring. The discolored area is usually circular or oblong. If the disease spreads…

…the entire blade can change color, as the spots grow large enough to blend together. If this is happening in your yard, you are in need of Cape Coral lawn care service.

During Florida’s rainy summers, your grass is susceptible to gray leaf spot disease. In southwest Florida, the danger lasts from May through September, when we have long periods of rain and high humidity. Continual wetness creates a perfect breeding ground for gray leaf spot to proliferate.

Yards full of St. Augustine grass are the most likely to suffer from this infection. Usually, the disease will affect new sprigs of St. Augustine grass – not a well- established lawn. But if you are overzealous when you fertilize, you could be putting your lawn health at risk. You can also cause damage by using pesticides incorrectly or by irrigating with the wrong amount of water.

You should always be careful to water your lawn at the correct time of day. By irrigating in the early morning, your grass has a chance to dry quickly. An evening irrigation is riskier because the blades remain wet for too long.

Gray leaf spot disease is caused by a fungus and require special fungicides for treatment. These products should really only be applied by professionals. It’s sometimes difficult to properly apply fungicide products, and some types are not appropriate for residential lawns.

If your lawn is in need of Cape Coral lawn care service, irrigation services, shrub care or lawn care, feel free to contact us, or give us a call at (800) 314-8813. Remember to join the Larue Rewards Program to start earning points for online goods!

- Keith

This is the 3rd installment in “11 Ways to Ensure You Have the Greenest, Healthiest Lawn in Your Neighborhood“ which can be downloaded for FREE from our library of eBooks.

Grubs are small, “C”-shaped bugs that eat grass roots. They can cause additional damage by making small tunnels through the root area. When grubs hurt the roots, they make it more difficult for your grass to absorb water and nutrients. This can make your grass more susceptible to drought and other problems. Naples lawn care will definitely be needed and the longer you wait the more costly it can become.

If that wasn’t bad enough, grubs are also tasty treats for raccoons and armadillos. These unwanted guests will…

…visit your yard if you have lots of grubs. You might also notice dark wasps with light stripes on their bellies. These wasps can be another negative consequence of a grub infestation.

Signs of Grub Damage

If you have root damage from grub feeding, your grass will gradually thin out. The grass blades will become yellowish in color, and eventually die. Grub-infected grass feels soft and spongy, and you can easily pull it up with your hands. If your infestation gets worse, you’ll notice more patches of brown grass that keep getting bigger. The brown patches won’t respond to watering or fertilization.

You can check your lawn for grubs by cutting a square foot piece of sod in your yard. You only need to cut it on 3 sides, about two inches down. Flip up the square of sod and do a visual inspection. If you see several “C”-shaped grubs, you might be infected. Remember to replace the grass and water the area after you’re done.

It’s perfectly normal to find one or two grubs. Healthy grass won’t be damaged by a small number of bugs. Grass can usually grow more roots than the bugs can eat. But if you have an infestation, it might be time to get professional help.

Your Naples lawn care, specifically grub prevention, should start by June 15, so that you can interrupt the life cycle of the grub before it matures. There are alternate treatments for an established grub infestation.

Pest professionals will advise you on the best practices to prevent grubs from ruining your lawn. Although most local soils are sandy, every southwest Florida lawn is different. They will know the “magic potion” of proper nutrients for your area. There are also local and state fertilizer ordinances that professionals will be able to follow.

If you’re in need of trustworthy, Naples lawn care professionals for pest prevention, pest elimination or pest removal in your yard, then feel free to contact us online or give us a call at (800) 314-8813. Join the Larue Rewards Program to start earning points by referring us to your friends!

- Keith