We live in South Florida for a number of reasons: warm climate all year round, beautiful beaches, and plenty of activities and things to do. But we can’t escape the pests that habitat our area. Whiteflies are a big concern here in Palm Beach County and they are so good at camouflage, you may not even know you have them until it’s too late. 

 

What are Whiteflies?

 

Whiteflies are tiny, white, winged insects that suck on the nutrients in your plants. They damage your plants by not only draining its fluids and causing it to wilt but also by secreting honeydew onto its leaves. This honeydew form into fungal diseases that can severely damage or kill off your precious ornamentals or vegetable plants (their favorite!). Whiteflies are also very attracted to ficus hedges, which are prominent in our Palm Beach County landscapes. 

 

How to Identify Whiteflies

 

As mentioned, whiteflies are so small and easily camouflaged, it may take a little work to identify them. You can check your plants by shaking the leaves, as they will all fly off in swarm when disturbed. Turn over your leaves and you may find sticky honeydew left behind. Whiteflies are also quick reproducers, laying up to 400 eggs at one time. You can identify whitefly eggs by their extremely tiny size and pale yellow color laid in a circular pattern. Larvae are little white ovals and you can find them sucking on your plants nutrients on the underside of your leaves.

 

How to Prevent and Treat Whitefly

 

It’s always best to prevent an infestation before it can happen to you. The professionals at East Coast Sprayers know whitefly like the backs of their hands and can easily identify if you’re susceptible or if you need treatment for an existing whitefly breakout. We will tailor an insect control treatment plan specifically for you to ensure a beautiful, lush landscape for years to come. Contact us today for your free evaluation!

Look around – your neighbors and friends are enjoying summer family gatherings on their green, well-manicured lawns. Don’t be envious; you too can have a beautiful lawn at your own Palm Beach County home! All it takes is regular lawn fertilization and feeding to keep your grass green year round. East Coast Sprayers is here to help explain the benefits of feeding and fertilizing your lawn. 

Weed Reduction

Grass with deep, healthy roots are less susceptible to weeds. Regular feeding and fertilization gives your lawn the vital nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy – leaving no room for menacing weeds to invade. Weed control is hard to overcome, so it’s best to prevent weeds before they even have the chance. 

Resistance to Pests

Whether or not your fertilizer contains pesticides to protect against bugs, a strong lawn has better defenses to stand up against pest damage and healthy roots leave them with little room to dig or burrow into the soil. Proper fertilization can provide insect control simply by strengthening the root system and overall health of your grass.

Disease Defense

Think of fertilization as a regular supplement to support the immune system and fight off illness. Feeding and fertilizing your lawn gives your it the health-boost to protect against ruthless disease that can wreak havoc on your landscape.

Overall Lawn Health

Feeding and fertilizing your lawn gives it the essential nutrients it needs to flourish. Just like we need food and water, your grass needs the perfect blend of nitrogen, potassium and phosphate to maintain it’s dense, green appearance. The overall health of your grass can be easily improved with proper fertilization on a regular basis.

Lawn Fertilization and Feeding Help

While there are many do-it-yourself techniques, it’s always best to leave the health of your lawn up to the professionals. East Coast Sprayers can quickly establish which nutrients your lawn is lacking and customize a fertilization plan specifically for you. Our team of lawn “doctors” will evaluate, diagnose and prescribe a regular treatment program to keep your Palm Beach County lawn healthy. Contact us today at (561) 203-5555 for a free evaluation!

In Palm Beach County, we are used to the heat, daily rain, and bugs that come along with summertime. While we can’t control the weather, we can control the pests that are invading your landscape this time of year. Since we have been seeing an influx of grubs taking over our customer’s lawns recently, here’s some information on these destructive insects and how East Coast Sprayers can help maintain your beautiful lawn. 

 

Identifying Grubs

 

Grubs are the little, white larvae of June beetles. They love to feed on organic matter in the soil, such as your grass roots. If you are not sure if you have a grub problem, here are some tell-tale signs:

 

  • Your lawn feels spongy when you walk on it
  • Foraging animals such as raccoons, armadillos, skunks and birds are digging up your lawn to feed on the grubs
  • Dead parts of your lawn can be pulled back like carpet from grubs eating the root systems

The key to controlling grubs is to kill them before they hatch. Insect control preventative treatments can be applied in the early summer in Palm Beach County to help eliminate the issue before it even starts. 

 

Grubs Treatment

 

East Coast Sprayers have the knowledge you need to help keep your Palm Beach County property free of insects all summer long. Our team can provide a free evaluation of your infestation and outline a treatment plan for grubs in your landscape. Contact us today and let us help you get rid of what’s bugging you!

Summer is here in Palm Beach County! It’s time to start spending more time outdoors, having barbeques and enjoying our backyards with friends and family. However, there is a fungus lurking in your yard that can bring those backyard plans to squealing halt. Take-all root rot is an extremely destructive root fungus disease that can be found invading St. Augustine, Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede grasses across South Florida. With proper lawn fertilization and care, you can have your grass looking pristine all summer long.

 

Signs and Causes of Take-All Root Rot

 

First, the signs of take-all root rot will come in the spring and summer. Your lawn will start to yellow in patches in areas with high sunlight. As the disease progresses, the patches will continue to grow irregularly and the grass will thin out until it dies. You may see weeds growing in the dead areas as an indication that the root rot has severely weakened the root system allowing weeds to take their place. The leaves of your grass typically will not have damage, but the roots will be rotten in a black or dark brown color.

 

The causes of take-all root rot can vary. The pros at East Coast Spayers can pinpoint it back to a few common mistakes:

 

  • Heavy rains in the spring and summer
  • Nutrient deficiencies in your soil
  • Heavy lime application
  • Fertilizing with too much nitrate

Professional Take-All Root Rot Treatment

 

Any lawn disease or fungus can be difficult to eradicate on your own. The experts at East Coast Sprayers can quickly diagnose your lawn and form a treatment plan to prevent and alleviate the lawn disease at your Palm Beach County residence. Providing your turf with custom lawn fertilization will give it the nutrients, nitrates, and care it needs to thrive. Contact us today for a free evaluation and get your property looking beautiful for summer.