Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Keeping Palm Beach County Lawns Green and Pest Free for Over 25 Years

You are here: Home / Archives for Preventing and Treating Lawn Diseases

Preventing and Treating Lawn Diseases

How to Keep St. Augustine Grass Looking Good in South Florida?

by Leave a Comment

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

One of the most common sod grasses for South Florida lawns is St. Augustine grass, scientifically known as Stenotaphrum secundatum. St. Augustine grass is a warm weather grass that is popular in our area because of its natural resistance to saltwater and high tolerance against heat and humidity. The most common varieties of St. Augustine sod grass include: Floratam, Palmetto, Bitterblue, CitraBlue, ProVista and Seville with each having their own benefits and drawbacks. If sugarcane mosaic virus is a concern to you The State of Florida suggests using Palmetto type St. Augustine sod. St. Augustine turf grasses spread via stolons and create lush, dense mats that help push out noxious weed infestations. But St. Augustine lawns aren’t immune from problems and keeping it looking its best requires a little TLC.

Before beginning any treatment plans for your Palm Beach County St. Augustine lawn, get a soil test. St. Augustine sod grass needs the proper nutrients and drainage to truly thrive and it doesn’t do well in highly compacted soil. Check your soils pH level. Ideally this should range between 5.0 and 7.5. If your soil doesn’t meet these requirements and you still want to grown St. Augustine grass, a soil amendment may be required.

After you know your soil is a good match for St. Augustine sod grass, it is matter of proper sunlight, fertilization, irrigation and pest control to keep it looking its best. St. Augustine sod grass is not drought tolerant, but too much irrigation can lead to different types of lawn fungus.

St. Augustine Grass Tips in South Florida

  • St. Augustine sod grass thrives in the hot sun of Palm Beach County and the parts of your lawn under shade will not be as prosperous as full sun areas.
  • To encourage deep root growth your St. Augustine lawn should be watered deeply for fewer days rather than lightly everyday.
  • Irrigate your St. Augustine lawn in the morning instead of the night to aid in proper evaporation and avoid pooling water
  • Fertilize St. Augustine grass with slow-release nitrogen rich fertilizers
  • Keep an eye out for destructive lawn pests like the southern chinch bug

Why not leave your St. Augustine lawn treatment to a professional. Our locally owned and operated company can keep your South Florida lawn looking great with complete professional lawn fertilization, pest control and weed control service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.

We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Give Us a Call Today for a Free Estimate!
(561) 844-0422

Fairy Ring Lawn Disease Treatment & Prevention in South Florida

by Leave a Comment

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Fairy ring disease is a very common lawn fungal disease in South Florida caused by an array of species of basidiomycete fungi, which includes mushrooms and shelf fungi. Fairy Ring disease affects literally all warm weather sod grasses, but Bermuda grass is much more susceptible to the fungi than St. Augustine sod grasses. Fairy ring disease is easily identifiable by the circular rings of mushrooms that seem to appear overnight on your Palm Beach County lawn or commercial property. Golf courses in South Florida are a popular target of fairy rings and give lawn crews a major headache. But there is no need to panic as fairy ring lawn disease rarely causes significant damage to residential lawns in Palm Beach County.

The best prevention for fairy rings is to maintain a healthy lawn with proper fertilization, irrigation and removing any excess buildup of thatch that may contribute to drainage issues. Aeration and testing of your soil can also be very beneficial if fairy rings are an ongoing problem. In order to properly grow, fairy rings need a supply of dead organic matter in the soil to feed on that can include old tree stumps. If the source of organic matter is not addressed, chances are fairy rings will return.

The fungi that causes fairy rings is usually spread by spores or infected soil, but also can travel to new lawns from infected lawn maintenance tools and equipment. Decontaminating lawn maintenance equipment after use on lawns with visible fairy rings can reduce this transference.

Some types of mushrooms in fairy rings including Chlorophyllum spp. are poisonous and need to be removed or destroyed if children or pets are present.

Will Fairy Ring Disease Go Away Without Treatment?

Yes! In most cases fairy ring disease will just disappear as the environmental conditions surrounding your lawn change.

Do Fungicides Work on Fairy Ring Disease?

Yes! Fairy ring disease is manageable with the use of the proper fungicides.

Why not leave your lawn fungus problems to a professional? Our highly trained pest control and fertilization technicians have been keeping the lawns of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Jupiter and other Palm Beach County, Florida cities lush, green and fungus free for over twenty five years.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Give Us a Call Today for a Free Estimate!
(561) 844-0422

Lawn Treatment for Brown Patch Disease

by Leave a Comment

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

South Florida is known for its high humidity, which is one of the reasons brown patch fungus is the most common lawn diseases in Palm Beach County. Brown patch fungus, or brown patch disease as it is sometimes called, can be caused by numerous factors including poor soil drainage, too much irrigation, high humidity and more. Basically anything that traps moisture in your lawn long enough to start growing fungi can be the origin of brown patch disease, which is caused by rhizoctonia solani fungi. Left untreated, this fungus will rapidly spread and eventually cause severe damage to your South Florida sod grass.

A properly applied fungicide will help kill off brown patch and other fungi. And once your lawn has been treated with a fungicide, proper maintenance including aerating and dethatching can aid in preventing brown patch fungus from returning. Having irrigation that runs during the night could also be a problem because your lawn needs sunshine for proper evaporation.

Neem oil can be an effective natural way to solve your brown patch disease lawn problems. Neem oil is a natural fungicide that works well on small areas, however severe outbreaks will most likely need the aid of a chemical fungicide. Simply treat the spots by spraying the recommended amount of neem oil on them and repeat until the fungi have disappeared. But once again, you should address the cause to prevent brown patch fungus from returning.

Preventing Brown Patch Disease From Recurring

  • Check Soil for High Nitrogen Levels
  • Aerate & Dethatch to Allow Your Lawn to Breath
  • Run Irrigation in Morning Hours to Allow Evaporation
  • Make Sure Storm Drainage Systems are Fee of Debris

Our locally owned and operated lawn treatment company has experienced professionals that can help with lawn disease identification, prevention and treatment for your Palm Beach County residential or commercial lawn. We can keep your West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington or Jupiter, Florida lawn lush, green and disease free no matter what type of sod you have. And remember, proper maintenance and regular fertilization creates a healthier, denser lawn that is more resistant to stress and disease.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Give Us a Call Today for a Free Estimate!
(561) 844-0422

Pythium Blight Lawn Disease Treatment & Prevention

by Leave a Comment

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Pythium blight, also known as cottony blight and pythium root rot, is a common fungal lawn disease in South Florida caused by the Pythium spp. pathogen. Pythium blight outbreaks are directly related to the weather and it favors hot, humid environments that make Palm Beach County a perfect breeding ground for the fungi. Symptoms of this lawn disease usually first develop around grassy areas that are prone to hold water and not drain properly. Pythium blight outbreaks need to be addressed quickly as the fungi can rapidly spread and kill off large sections of your sod grass.

* The Pythium spp. pathogen that causes pythium blight is already present in the roots of your South Florida sod grass naturally. The fungi only become a problem when your lawn is under stress from excess irrigation or rainfall, poor drainage and extreme temperatures

Pythium Blight Lawn Disease Best Practices For Prevention

  • Improve Drainage in Your Soil
  • Have a Soil Amendment Done if Needed
  • Reduce Irrigation During Rainy Seasons
  • Don’t Irrigate at Night
  • Clean Lawn Mowers and Landscaping Tools to Prevent Cross Contamination

Does Pythium Blight Go Away Without Treatment?

Left untreated, pythium blight will spread throughout your commercial or residential West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington or Jupiter lawn and create large, unsightly patches of dead or dying sod grass. It can eventually kill of your entire lawn, so waiting to see if it goes away on its own will only cause a bigger problem for you and your lawn.

Do Fungicides Work on Pythium Blight?

Yes, pythium blight fungus can be managed with the use of the proper fungicides, but an accurate diagnosis is extremely important. Using a fungicide meant for other lawn fungal diseases probably won’t work on pythium. Use a fungicide that is specifically made for Pythium blight and if the problem reappears rotate fungicides to prevent resistance. And it is advised you treat areas that are adjacent to active outbreaks of pythium blight before the onset of systems occurs in new areas to protect the healthy turf grass you have.

Why not leave your pythium blight and other lawn fungal disease problems to a professional? Our highly trained pest control and fertilization technicians have been keeping the lawns of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Jupiter and other Palm Beach County, Florida cities lush, green and fungus free for over twenty five years.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Give Us a Call Today for a Free Estimate!
(561) 844-0422

Rust Fungus Treatment for St. Augustine Grass in South Florida

by Leave a Comment

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Rust fungus is a very common lawn disease in South Florida caused by the Puccinia spp. fungal pathogen that attacks just about all warm-season sod grasses including St. Augustine and zoysia. Rust fungus, like its name implies, can make your St. Augustine and other sod grasses look like they have rust spots on them that will continue to spread until most of the blade is discolored. Rust fungus may be an eyesore, but fortunately it is not a pathogen that will actually kill the affected sod grass. This disease is triggered by cooler weather when your sod’s growth has slowed and is wet, but thankfully in most cases it will disappear on its own once the warm weather returns.

Rust Fungus Should be Treated Because it Can Weaken Your Lawn Which Makes it Susceptible to Other Diseases and Pests

Rust fungus is more of concern in places where the sod grass is under stress from lack of proper nutrients and/or sunlight. Rust fungus does weaken your lawn which makes it more susceptible to pests and other diseases.

Best Practices For Rust Fungus Prevention

  • Make Sure to Use a Proper Slow-Release Fertilizer
  • Irrigate in Morning Hours to Allow Shady Areas Time to Dry
  • Use Preventive Fungicide on Recurring Problem Areas of Lawn

Will Rust Fungus Go Away Without Treatment?

Possibly. In many cases rust fungus will disappear on its own once warm weather returns.

Do Fungicides Work on Rust Fungus?

Yes, rust fungus can be managed with the use of the proper fungicide. If the disease is a recurring problem it is best to apply the fungicide as a prevention and not a cure, so apply before symptoms are detected.

Why not leave your lawn fungal disease problems to a professional? Our highly trained pest control and fertilization technicians have been keeping the lawns of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Jupiter and other Palm Beach County, Florida cities lush, green and fungus free for over twenty five years.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Beetle Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization and Pest Control

Give Us a Call Today for a Free Estimate!
(561) 844-0422