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FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

The media has widely publicized concern that pesticides can cause birth defects or cancer. While this is open to debate, health surveys should allay your fears.

Health surveys of thousands of people involved in pest management industries have shown no increase of cancer or birth defects when compared with people who do not have this level of exposure to pesticides. The American Cancer Society publicly states that U.S. cancer rates have declined with the exception of lung cancer and skin cancer. Dr. Bruce Ames, an expert on cancer causes states 99.9% of the potential cancer-causing materials we are exposed to are present as natural ingredients in the environment.

Evaporation loss can be 60% higher during the day, so water during the cool, early morning hours to minimize water loss by evaporation and to discourage disease. By watering in the early morning hours, when the grass is already wet from the dew, you do not really alter the natural state of the grass. If you must water in the late afternoon, stop watering soon enough before dark to allow the grass time to dry so that fungus diseases are not encouraged.

For most Florida soils, an average of ½ to ¾ of an inch of water per application is enough to replenish the grass. It is best to saturate the root zone, then let the soil dry to encourage healthy, deep root growth.

To determine how long you should run your sprinkler, place several empty straight-sided cans or cups at different distances within one zone. Run the sprinkler for 15 minutes and measure the amount of water collected in each can. Calculate an average water depth and determine how long it will take to apply ½ to ¾ of an inch of water.

Example:

  • ¼” average depth after 15 minutes → water 35–50 minutes
  • ½” average depth after 15 minutes → water 20–30 minutes
  • March – mid June: Driest time of year. Water regularly. Twice per week is ideal. Once per week may lead to lawn damage.
  • June – September: Twice per week watering needed, but rainfall may reduce need.
  • October – February: Less frequent watering needed due to cooler temperatures and shorter days.

    More watering tips

We provide fertilizer in the form of liquid nutrients throughout the summer in accordance with all local fertilizer ordinances.

Some large nationwide competitors heavily solicit neighborhoods. If they say your lawn has a problem, don’t be alarmed. Call the office or request a service call and they will check your lawn and take care of any issues.

With the “Once & Out” program, indoor treatment is usually only needed once. After the initial visit, a pest barrier is maintained around the exterior of the home to prevent pests from entering.

The initial indoor treatment is designed to be:

  • No mess
  • No smell
  • Uses bait instead of spraying
  • Safer and more effective

If pests get inside later, they will treat inside again at no additional charge.

Cover vulnerable plants with lightweight materials such as sheets, frost cloths, or burlap overnight. Secure the covers at the base to trap heat, but avoid weighing them down on delicate plants. Remove the covers each morning and replace them each evening if cold weather continues. Water the ground around plants in the afternoon before the frost, as moist soil retains heat better. If possible, bring potted tropical plants and young palms indoors or into a sheltered area.

During a hard freeze, wrap the trunks of young or sensitive palm trees with burlap or frost cloth and protect the center growth (heart) of the palm with extra insulation. For high-value plants, you can add a small heat source such as string lights (not LED) or plant heat lamps. Apply 2–4 inches of mulch around plants to help insulate the roots. Watering your turf before a hard freeze can help prevent drying out from cold winds and freezing temperatures, but do not water immediately after a freeze because the turf will be fragile.

Tropical plants such as hibiscus, gardenia, and bougainvillea may drop leaves, flowers may wilt, or plants may temporarily stop blooming after cold weather. This is a normal reaction to temperature changes and most plants will recover. Trim dead or damaged branches in spring once new growth appears.

Palm fronds may turn brown or black after a freeze, especially if the center growth (the heart) is damaged. Only remove fully dead fronds in the spring. If the heart of the palm is still alive, the palm will usually recover.

After a freeze, St. Augustine grass may turn brown. This is called freeze damage and usually grows out and is mowed off later without permanent damage to the roots. While it may look bad for a few weeks, the lawn typically recovers.

Cold weather can also help reduce invasive grasses like crabgrass, bermuda grass, and carpet grass, which are more sensitive to cold than St. Augustine.

No. Do not prune immediately after a freeze. Damaged leaves actually help protect the plant from further cold damage. Wait until spring when new growth appears before trimming dead or damaged areas.

Monitor watering carefully and avoid overwatering while plants are recovering from cold stress. Overwatering during recovery can stress plants further.

Most Florida plants are very resilient and will recover from frost or freeze damage. With proper care, trimming in spring, and warmer temperatures, new growth should return and plants should recover.

No, as a general rule, “Natural” pesticides are not any safer than Synthetic pesticides. “All substances are toxic…there is none that is not. It is the dose that differentiates a poison from a remedy” stated Paracelsus, the father of modern toxicology. For example: We can safely take aspirin for pain if we observe the guidelines on the product label. If we ignore the instructions and take 10 times the proper dose, we risk illness or death. Likewise, the proper dose of insecticides will control the pests and minimize the risk to people, pets and the environment. When using both “natural” or synthetic pesticides, be sure to follow the proper guidelines.