Pests can cause untold damage to your home and property before you realize what has happened so it can be important to schedule regular pest control services for your Alachua and Newberry, FL Areas home. The protection professional pest control services can provide can give you peace of mind and less stress as you go about your daily life. Consider the benefits of pest control that stops problems before they start. 

 

Related: The Top Signs That You Need Pest Control Services in the Jonesville and Gainesville, FL Areas

 

Preventive Pest Control

When you see ants or roaches in your home, this can feel like a violation of everything you work for to protect your family and their health. Plus, these pests can be quite difficult to eradicate. Sometimes it can seem like they are gone only to return in a week worse than before. 

A professional pest control service has the products you cannot buy in the aisle of a big box store. Their pest control team arrives with the best products to kill whatever pests are plaguing your home.

Perimeter treatments are aimed at stopping ants, roaches, and other pests from breaching the barrier of your house. This approach is successful because prevention is the best way to stop them in their tracks. 

Many times, you might think natural treatments are better but the sad truth can be that they are only minimally successful for the pests that can plague the Alachua and Newberry areas. This is why a reputable pest control company first determines the exact pests that enter your home so they can target the treatments directly. 

 

Licensed, Trained Technicians

Since the treatment products used to eliminate pests from entering your home can be strong, be sure to choose a company that demonstrates training and ongoing education for the team who treats your home. 

This can show you that their approach is based on science and that they are extremely careful in the application locations to protect your family and pets from contact. Their holistic approach focuses as much on the protection of your family and pets as it does on pest prevention and removal. 

 

Pest Elimination

At the initial meeting, they will assess your home and property for the pests you can see and locate any that you might not see. This visit will be about killing the pests that are in your home and around the structures. 

Afterward, they can apply perimeter treatments that keep those pesky problems from getting into your home. Rest assured, though, that if some do make it through the perimeter, their team will be out to remedy that as soon as possible. 

 

Pest Control Satisfaction Guarantee 

A reputable pest control company knows there is nothing worse than having your home treated only to find the same pests a few days later. This is why they make sure that never happens to you with their pest control guarantee. 

If any pests show up inside your home between visits, all you have to do is call them and their pest control team will be out to handle it right away. Best of all, this is at no charge to you!

When you need pest control, you need a company that does what it promises every time, leaving your home and property in pest-free conditions. 

Pests love a warm, humid climate like the Jonesville and Gainesville, FL Areas but the last thing you love is pests. If you see dead bugs or think you might have roaches, you are probably searching as quickly as you can for pest control. Here are some of the signs that you need reliable pest control for your home. 

The best pest control targets specific pests. You might have tried natural solutions or purchased sprays from big box stores but these remedies are no match for the bugs in your home. You need professional help that takes care of bugs the first time. 

How to Know If You Have Roaches 

Roaches can be a common problem in the Gainesville area but you want to be sure this is the bug you suspect. Roaches leave droppings that resemble coffee grounds and they leave dark smears on walls where they are active. 

Another indicator can be a musty smell that is unusual in your home. Along with the smell, you might find some shells or roach skins in areas where they live. Since roaches eat food and other things, you could find parts of a bag of chips chewed away. 

The strongest indicator that you have roaches is when you turn on the light in a dark room and see one scurry away.

How to Know If You Have Ants 

The first indicator of an ant infestation can be when you see a path of ants marching through your kitchen. Ants leave a trail for the rest of the colony so they can find the path to the food. Many times, you will find ants coming under an exterior door and into the pantry. 

You might also find ants on the counters when you have left out food. You could also find ant wings in the window sills of your house and small dirt piles near the floor molding. 

How to Know If You Have Spiders

One of the main ways to know if you have spiders in your home is the presence of spider webs. You might find them in corners of seldom-used rooms or in the garage nooks and crannies. Spider webs look different from cobwebs in that cobwebs are often stringy while spider webs have a pattern to them.

You might see small white sacs with spider eggs in the corners of rooms. Spiders like muggy spaces like basements or damp garages so you can also see droppings in these areas. 

Best Pest Control Options 

The best pest control options are the ones that protect your children and pets from dangerous pesticides. This is why pest control should start outside and prevent insects and bugs from coming inside your home. 

Perimeter treatments act as a barrier to stop these pests before they have a chance to make a home in your house. By using safe, approved pest control products, a pest control company can treat the exterior of your house to stop any bugs from finding a way inside. 

If you notice the first treatment was not as effective as it should have been, they will return for an additional treatment at no charge. This can give you peace of mind when it comes to preventing pests in your home. 

 

We know that dealing with critters in your yard can be a real pain, but there are things you can do to keep the damage and trouble to a minimum. We want to share some tips on how you can identify and manage pesky wildlife such as armadillos, moles, deer, hogs/wild boar, and mosquitoes.

Identifying and Removing Armadillos from your lawn

Signs that Armadillos are in your landscape:

• Keep an eye out for holes or burrows in the ground that are around 3-5 inches wide and a few inches deep. You might also notice piles of dirt around the burrows, especially near the openings, and the grass torn up in a couple hundred square foot space.

• Damage to your lawn or garden beds. They like to dig around for insects and grubs, so you might see patches of soil that look rooted up or areas of your lawn that have been dug up. And if you spot small, dark, cylindrical droppings around the burrows, it's a pretty good bet that armadillos are to blame.

If you don't want those pesky armadillos messing up your yard, there are a couple of things you can do:

• Your best bet is to find there burrow, which is easiest to find by looking around the base of your home. They will typically dig a football sized hole under your foundation, HVAC unit, or shrubbery and there will be a pile of dirt next to the hole where they created their home. Once located, trapping is the most successful way to rid your lawn of these pesky critters. Many pest control companies offer humane wildlife trapping services.

• If you cannot find their home, trapping may still be an option, but you might be less successful. Locating their entry point (if your yard is fenced in) may be your second best option. If you find where they’ve dug under your fence, use chicken wire or any type of fencing to keep them from coming back.

• If trapping or excluding them doesn’t work, your last chance for success is eliminating their food source - grubs and insects. We offer a lawn pest and grub control program which can protect your lawn from grubs and help it recover from the armadillos. 

• A handy DIY trick that we cannot confirm works is to try using castor oil or rags soaked in ammonia to make them steer clear of certain spots in your lawn. Exclusion and trapping are the most effective and proven solutions.

Identifying and Removing Gopher Moles from your Lawn

There are a few signs that suggest you might have moles in your yard:

• Look out for raised ridges or mole hills on your lawn, which are created as moles tunnel just below the surface of the soil.

• You might also see shallow tunnels or ruts in your lawn, caused by moles as they search for insects to eat. These can make it difficult to mow your grass.

• Gopher Moles are most noticeable in areas where the grass is thin or they frequently travel, such as against your driveway or sidewalk as their tunnels run along them.

Although they aren’t typically the only cause of the lawn’s struggle - they absolutely do contribute to it by creating air pockets at the roots allowing turf roots to dry out.

• Talpirid mole baits and other similar brands work well if you’re patient, although they do take some time and consistency to be effective. Make sure to put them in the mole's most frequented tunnels (typically near concrete where they tunnel paralel to it) and be sure to use gloves (this keeps your scent off the baits).

• Similarly to Armadillos, our grub and lawn pest control program will help reduce the grubs and help the lawn improve from other struggles helping the mole tunnels become more visible.

• Here's a YouTube video made by our friend, Allyn Hane, the LCN about different types of mole traps to use.

• You can also try this approach (just kidding!) 

Identifying Deer Plant Damage and Keeping them from your Landscape

If you suspect that deer are munching on your landscape, there are a few signs to look out for:

• The most obvious signs are damage to your plants, including bite marks on leaves, broken branches, and completely stripped foliage. New plants pulled out of the ground are also a common sign, as they test them to see if they’re tasty.

• Another indication is the presence of tracks or droppings in your yard. Deer tracks are typically heart-shaped and leave imprints, while their droppings are small and round. 

If you find that deer are treating your landscape plants like a buffet, you've got a couple of options, but know that none of them are simple - especially if you live in the San Felasco area. Those are some of the boldest and most persistent deer we have ever dealt with.

• First, plan your landscape design with deer-resistant plantings such as Drift Roses, Snapdragons, Flax Lilies, Camellias, and Hollies that deer are seldom interested in. Sometimes designing with nature in mind is easier and more prudent than fighting your surroundings.

• Exclusion works well if you want to grow things they will see as tasty - such as a garden or certain flowers. Put up some high fences to keep them out. 

• Another idea is a motion-detected sprinkler head. We have used these regularly in landscape installations where deer are common and may want to taste the new plants - even though they are deer-resistant.

Identifying Hog or Boar Damage and Protecting your Landscape from them.

Signs that hogs might be causing damage to your landscape: 

• You might notice areas of soil that have been rooted up, creating large patches of bare ground. Hogs use their strong snouts to dig for food, and this can create large damage to lawns - significantly worse than either moles or armadillos.

• Hogs may leave behind tracks or droppings in your yard. Hog tracks are typically round or oval-shaped and have distinctive imprints from their cloven hooves. Their droppings are also large and cylindrical in shape.

• Another sign to look out for is damage to plants or crops, as hogs are known to eat a variety of vegetation, which is unlike armadillos or moles. They may leave behind bite marks on leaves or chew through stems and roots similar to deer - but deer do not tear up the lawn.

Hogs and Boar can be a real disaster for your yard, so it's crucial to act fast once you spot them. You've got a few options here, but really only two are successful:

• Put up a fence to exclude them from your backyard. This is common in Nocatee where there are so many natural preserves and hogs are invading backyard lawns neighboring the preserve to search for food. Although it isn’t ideal, the hogs will just move on to the neighbor’s lawn.

•  If a fence isn’t practical for you, the next best thing to do is trap them. Please note than HOAs may have different rules and regulations in regards to this, so contact your local HOA board to request how to address the issue to avoid unexpected violations.

Reducing and Controlling Mosquitoes in your yard:

If you have mosquitoes swarming your yard, it is almost impossible to enjoy your outdoors. Take these steps to get rid of them.  

1. Get rid of any stagnant water around your place.Here’s a few of the most common sources of standing water around your home that mosquitoes love 

2. Ensure good drainage in your yard. Eliminate spots in your yard that are prone to puddling or stagnant water collecting.

3. Start a Mosquito Pest Treatment Program or install a mosquito misting system

For more information on mosquitoes, please feel free to use this resource that goes more in-depth on mosquitoes as a whole. 

When dealing with wildlife damaging your landscape or ruining your time outdoors, it's important to follow local and state laws and regulations. There are many effective methods available for preventing damage from deer or controlling the presence of armadillos or moles that are both safe and humane. Take the time to identify the wildlife in your yard and use the right methods for control to ensure a healthy and balanced ecosystem in your landscape.

If we can be of help to correct or protect your landscape from wildlife damage please don't hesitate to reach out to us at (352) 378-5296 or (904) 913-5296 or fill out our form at the top of the page!

While the weather in Alachua and Gainesville, FL, helps to keep landscaping looking green and healthy, some thought needs to be put into creating the type of ideal outdoor space for playing with the kids and hosting barbecue. The following lawn care essentials can keep your outdoor spaces pristine for all your plans this spring and summer. 

Landscape Design Upgrades

If your landscape has started to look ordinary and you think it needs an upgrade, you may want to consider adding new features—a speciality that some landscaping companies possess. The same company that takes care of your lawn can design and install custom features and landscape plans that highlight your home’s unique style and draw attention to the very best parts of the outdoor environment. 

From the front yard to the back, they have the ideas for upgrades that bring back your joy in your outdoor spaces. 

Weekly Lawn Service 

Entrusting your lawn to a professional service can ensure your landscape is stunning throughout the year. Because they pay special attention to the smallest lawn care details, you can be sure your property will stand out in the neighborhood. You might even have neighbors ask for your lawn care secrets!

Your lawn service can be tailored to your particular needs, including horticultural services to attend to the fine gardening shrubs and plants that distinguish your landscape. 

Sprinklers and Irrigation 

Proper irrigation can be crucial in the summer heat so you want a lawn care service that understands the demands your lawn and landscape have for watering. The ideal time for irrigation tends to be in the wee morning hours well before the sun rises. Since this may be when you are still sleeping, it can be difficult to know if the sprinkler system is working correctly. 

A lawn care service has the training to notice whether the grass and landscape beds are receiving the proper water amounts for them to thrive in the summer heat. The last thing you want to happen is for the plants and grass to suffer when you have so much invested in your custom landscape. 

Knowing they are always on the lookout for problems can give you tremendous peace of mind. 

Lawn Fertilization and Pest Control 

Being proactive with pest control can keep your grass and landscape plants from being consumed by insects but keeping up with the application schedule can be tough. When you hand off pest control and lawn fertilization to a reputable lawn service, they know what to apply at the ideal times to ensure your landscape remains healthy and vigorous. 

After a soil analysis to determine where it is deficient, they help clients love their lawns again with topdressing, targeted irrigation, and fertilizer that feeds their grass the nutrients it needs to remain in great health. 

Fertilizer is essential to feed the grass and plants well. Since the timing of the applications is critical to the most absorption during growth periods, their team can keep your lawn on schedule. The right ratio of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus can boost the grass into a lush, green carpet that complements the lovely appearance of your home.

Although the word 'pest' is typically used to describe an insect such as chinch bugs or webworms, the term is actually used to describe anything that is unwanted. (Perhaps you remember what you may have called your little sibling growing up?) In this case, a lawn certainly is not improved by being pestered with a lack of one of it's three basic needs) Wondering what pests may be the problem in your lawn? Check out our list of 10 common lawn pests and solutions to get rid of them!

1. Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are small pests that can cause a large amount of damage to your lawn. Chinch bugs suck the moisture out of grass blades, then replace that moisture with a poison that kills the grass. Lawns that have been affected by chinch bugs appear to have drought-like symptoms, including yellow, brown, or dead grass. Chinch bugs are most prevalent from late spring to mid-fall and are typically found in St. Augustine lawns, although they are occasionally found in Zoysia yards as well.

• YouTube: How can I tell if Chinch Bugs are in my Gainesville lawn?
• Quick Tip: Why Gainesville Chinch Bugs Aren't a Cinch to Control
• Why are Gainesville Chinch Bugs so dangerous for Gainesville grass?

2. Crabgrass

Crabgrass is an annual summer weed. While it germinates in early spring and completes its life cycle by fall, crabgrass seeds can lay dormant in your soil, waiting for next season to bring soil temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Several different types of crabgrass can be found in Florida.

    • Gainesville Pest of the Month: Crabgrass
    • Gainesville Lawn Weed and Disease Control Tips
    • A Tool to Identify Common Gainesville Florida Lawn Weeds

3. Drought Stress

St. Augustine and Zoysia lawns are the easiest to diagnose drought stress in. Both leaves have a midvein that acts as a “spine” for each individual blade, allowing it to open and close as needed.  Healthy, well-watered grass blades will appear almost completely flat and totally open. When grass begins to dry out, the blade will close in half upon itself, to reduce its surface area to the sun and thus conserve water. This will also give the grass a “hazy” look, as the backs of the blades are not as deep a green as the enclosed fronts.

• Gainesville Landscape Pest of the month: Drought Stress
• 5 Lawn Tips in times of Drought
• YouTube: 3 Basic Needs of a Lawn - #2 is Water (Drought stress)

4. Tropical Sod Webworm

Sod webworms are a common nuisance in St. Augustine and Zoysia lawns. Sometimes they're just pesky and can be easily ignored, but often they can destroy a lawn as they multiply. Even minor infestations in poorly managed turfgrass stressed by hot, humid, and rainy weather can cause problems for homeowners and property managers. Because it’s difficult to detect this pest early on, managing sod webworms may present challenges without proactive lawn treatments.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Sod Webworms
• YouTube: How to identify sod webworms and how to control them
• Quick Tip: Are moths damaging my Gainesville lawn?

5. Doveweed

Doveweed is an aggressive summer annual turfgrass weed. Its long leaves resemble St. Augustine grass in appearance, so this weed can grow unnoticed for some time. But doveweed doesn't just invade St. Augustine grass, it also takes hold in Bermuda, hybrid Bermuda, and zoysia grass. Not only can doveweed be an annoyance to people who are trying to grow turfgrass, it can also cause serious contact dermatitis for dogs that come in contact with the weed.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Doveweed
• YouTube: Two of the most invasive Gainesville Lawn Weeds: Doveweed and Basketgrass

6. Take-All Root Rot

Take-All Root Rot is a fungal disease that lives in the soil and attacks turf when conditions are favorable. Most commonly, it is found in St. Augustine lawns, however it can also be found in Bermuda and even Zoysia turfgrasses.

• Quick Tip: What is Take-All Root Rot in my Gainesville Lawn?
• How This Rain Can Negatively Affect Your Gainesville Lawn

7. Armyworms

The armyworm is the most common cause of damaged turfgrass on golf courses, athletic fields, and home landscapes.The larva of armyworms can cause rapid, significant loss of leaf tissue in turfgrass. They feed primarily on Bermuda and Ryegrasses in our area, but can also move to Zoysia and St. Augustine grass where they swarm.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Armyworms

8. Nutsedge

Nutsedge, also called nutgrass, is an aggressive weed that often plagues lawns in the wet seasons like we have been in. There are several different varieties of nutsedge, and they're all perennial weeds in the sedge family that regrow each year and reproduce in a manner that makes them difficult to manage.

• Gainesville Lawn Pest of the Month: Nutsedge Grass
• Quick Tip: Is Nutsedge Driving you NUTS?
• YouTube: How do I control green "sandspurs" in my lawn?

9. Brown Patch Fungus

Brown Patch lawn disease is triggered in a consistent time of year as the weather transitions from Summer to Winter or Winter to Summer (transition seasons of spring and fall). Brown Patch will be identified by circular browning patches of lawn which will continue to grow in size from the size of a dinner plate up to a few feet in diameter. Multiple circles of Brown Patch are common on St Augustine lawns infected by the disease.

• YouTube: How To Prevent Brown Patch Fungus in your Gainesville Lawn
• Why are there brown spots in my Gainesville lawn?

10. Broadleaf Weeds

Broadleaf weeds in North Florida lawns are not only a nuisance, but they actually make it more difficult for your grass recovering from winter frost damage to fill back in and recover. Weed control applications with pre-emergent and post-emergent products are a must for North Florida lawns looking to recover from a tough winter. Proper identification of weeds is a must for targeted control with so many different herbicides on the market.

• North Florida Lawn Pest of the Month: Broadleaf Weeds

Dealing with pests is often easier said than done. While you may find some success taking a DIY route, you’ll more than likely end up with incomplete pest control and recurring infestations. For best results, we recommend partnering with a professional team like ours here at The Master's Lawn Care with decades of experience and the industry’s leading products and technology, we are equipped to handle outdoor pest infestations of all kinds in North Florida yards.

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If you're tired of fighting the battle for St. Augustine pest control or need a Nocatee lawn care program, call our office at (904) 813-LAWN. If you have questions about your Gainesville lawn pest program, please call (352) 378-LAWN or fill out our online form so we can schedule a meeting to discuss how we can help!