east coast sprayers Archives - Page 2 of 3

Posted on September 14, 2019July 16, 2023 by East Coast Sprayers

Did you wake up and find areas of your grass seemed to have yellowed overnight? Do you notice these yellow and brown patches of grass are forming in an irregular, donut-like shape? If you answered yes to these questions, you may have a lawn fungus called brown patch.

Causes of Brown Patch Fungus

Summer in Palm Beach County is hot, humid and sunny; what we at East Coast Sprayers like to call the brown patch trifecta. Brown patch fungus typically develops (but remains dormant) during the cooler months when the temperature is below 80 degrees, but flourishes in the summer when the heat and humidity conditions are just right. Over watering your lawn during the summer months can increase your chances of a fungus outbreak.

Brown Patch Fungus Preventative Tips

Water in the morning, giving your lawn time to dry out before nightfall
Mow your lawn frequently to help dry out leaf blades
Shut off your sprinkler system during periods of heavy summer rain
Avoid high levels of nitrogen – fast release form especially!
Continue pre and post-emergent weed control to avoid sprouting weeds in those thinning areas
Fertilize your lawn to replenish vital nutrients necessary to fight off fungus and disease
Use preventative fungicides from May to September

If you have already noticed signs of brown patch fungus, it’s too late for preventative treatments. Not to worry! Brown patch doesn’t typically kill a lawn. Your grass can grow new blades come spring with proper care and spring-time lawn fertilization.

Brown Patch Fungus Treatment and Help

When it comes to brown patch fungus, prevention is always the key. East Coast Sprayers can develop a preventative treatment plan specifically designed for your Palm Beach County lawn. We carefully consider our South Florida weather conditions and apply weed control or lawn fertilization treatments during the most optimal time. Contact us today to see how we can help keep your lawn pristine year round!

Posted on August 17, 2019July 16, 2023 by East Coast Sprayers

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!

Posted on August 3, 2019July 16, 2023 by East Coast Sprayers

Living in Palm Beach County comes with its perks, but it also comes with the insects and pests that make their home in your landscape. Aphids and scales are two of the common found insects that invade and cause destruction in South Florida plants. East Coast Sprayers know how important curb appeal is to our customers, and we are here to help keep aphids and scales away with pest control treatments and programs designed for you.

Aphids in Palm Beach County

Aphids can primarily be found in your flowering plants, feeding on the juices from the stems, leaves and flower buds. Their feeding causes your flower petals to curl and hinders the overall growth of the plant. These pests reproduce quickly and aphid larvae feed on the roots of the plant.

Luckily, aphids can be easy to eradicate as their bodies don’t offer much protection. In addition to treating the live insects with a pesticide, the professionals at East Coast Sprayers can apply a treatment during their dormant season to kill any wintering eggs.

Scales in Palm Beach County

While scales have a different appearance than aphids, they have almost identical destructive behaviors. They suck the juices from your plants, leaving them discolored and damaged. In addition, they secrete honeydew, which quickly forms into a sooty mold which can reduce photosynthesis. This mold can remain on your foliage long after killing them off and cause extreme damage or death of the plant. Preventative treatments can help reduce the odds of scales ever harming your plants, while our specialists can help eradicate their presence if you currently have an infestation.

Aphids and Scales Treatment in Palm Beach County

If you’re experiencing issues with your landscape similar to what we’ve described above, it may be time to call East Coast Sprayers. We are professionals who understand the ins and outs of your landscape, as well as how to control pests and insects that invade it. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your aphid and scale epidemic and let us create a custom treatment just for you.

Posted on July 27, 2019July 16, 2023 by East Coast Sprayers

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!

Posted on June 29, 2019July 16, 2023 by East Coast Sprayers

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!

Posted on June 22, 2019 by East Coast Sprayers

Just like alligators and snakes, fire ants are a resident pest of Palm Beach County. If you live here, you have more than likely had your fair share of experiences with these painful insects. Their mounds can destroy your yard and cause painful stings to you, your children and your pets. If you are a Palm Beach County resident or business owner, East Coast Sprayers can help you understand fire ants and use our insect control expertise to eradicate them from your property!

Where Do Fire Ants Live?

Fire ants are most prominent in the warm climate areas of the southern United States and are found throughout the entire state of Florida. Due to their social nature, you can usually find colonies of fire ant mounds in open, sunny areas such as:

Parks
Playgrounds
Lawns
Fields/meadows
Golf courses
Pastures
Wildlife areas
Agricultural land

Sometimes they may be spotted by a building, near the base of a tree, or between sidewalks, which provide a safe, dry location for their queen and her offspring.

Fire Ant Stings and Reactions

It’s easy to identify a fire ant by it’s sting, although we do not recommend this method! Fire ants are notoriously aggressive; their stings inject venom into your skin that can cause instant, intense pain. The pain will quickly turn into extreme itching and irritation that can last for days. One step into a fire ant mound can trigger groups to swarm and attack, which is why stings tend to appear in clusters. One fire ant will sting multiple times until dislodged or killed. The stings will produce fluid-filled blisters, similar in appearance to pimples, and could cause the affected area to swell.

How Do You Control Fire Ants?

Fire ants in Palm Beach County are inevitable. However, the professionals at East Coast Sprayers are experts in treating residential and commercial properties for fire ants. Our vast knowledge on eradication methods, as well as preventative treatments, can help you enjoy your lawn without fear. Contact us today for a FREE evaluation of your fire ant infestation and let us help you be fire ant free!

Posted on May 25, 2019 by East Coast Sprayers

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.

Posted on May 5, 2019 by East Coast Sprayers

Look around – everywhere you see are beautiful, tropical palm trees. While we consider palm trees as a “natural” landscape plant in Palm Beach County, you may be surprised to learn that most species are not native to Florida. This is why proper fertilization and palm root feeding maintenance is vital to the health of your palm trees.

Why Should I Feed My Palm Trees?

Palm trees require proper soil, nutrients, and micronutrients in order to flourish. Since most are not native to Palm Beach County, our soil doesn’t provide them with the nutrients that they need (remember: our sandy beaches are not a soil). The ideal diet of a palm tree consists of nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. We supply the palm tree root systems with the proper blend of fertilizers and nutrients, drenched or injected deep below the surface of the soil. Even native species can benefit from palm tree root feedings – it helps them continue to grow and build their resistance to pests and disease.

Tips For Proper Palm Tree Care

Avoid puncturing or damaging the trunk of your palm trees in order to avoid disease. Screws and nails should never be in your tree trunk and even a string from a weed trimmer can cause damage.
Feed your roots twice a year. The professionals at East Coast Sprayers can drench or inject the vital nutrients your palm trees need deep down into the roots.
It’s best to keep 2-6 inches of mulch around your palm tree’s trunk to prevent the spread of diseases.
Be careful with your watering. During the summer, you should water in the early morning or late afternoon. You can water earlier in the morning during our winter months.
Soil is key. Proper soil keeps moisture and nutrients in place. Don’t use soils with added fertilizer. Peat moss is a great option if it’s available.

Palm Tree Root Feeding Help

Just like you, we at East Coast Sprayers love our palm trees and want to make sure yours are kept healthy and beautiful. Our palm root feeding program can help maintain your tropical landscape and keep it looking its best year round. We offer additional services to maintain your palm trees including pesticide and fungicide treatments. Contact East Coast Sprayers today for a free estimate and customized program plan.

Posted on April 13, 2019 by East Coast Sprayers

Our favorite season is almost here. But, as we are heading into the summer months, it’s time to be on alert for one of Palm Beach County’s most annoying pests: fleas. Fleas are an incredibly invasive parasite, latching on to our pets, invading our homes, and even biting humans. If you think you have a flea infestation, East Coast Sprayers is here to help!

When Are Fleas Most Active?

Fleas can be found in Palm Beach County year round, but are most active during the spring and summer months. It’s during these times that we, and our pets, like to spend most of our time outdoors and are most susceptible to attack. Fleas are especially abundant during rainy and humid days, making the summer months their favorite time to infest your lawn. Fleas cannot survive in cold weather and need at least 70-90 degrees to live and reproduce.

What Do Fleas Look Like?

Fleas are tiny, no more than 1/16“ long as an adult, and can be difficult to see to the naked eye. They have narrow, flat sizes which make it easy for them to navigate through their host’s hair. They are dark in color and while they have no wings, they have long legs made specifically for jumping (they can jump 7-8 inches, in fact).

Are Fleas Dangerous?

Flea infestations can cause severe harm to its host. Besides the itchy and irritating bites, fleas can spread diseases, tapeworms and cause skin infections from their bites. Your pets could also have an allergy to fleas saliva, which could cause them to lick, scratch and chew themselves.

How Do You Get Rid of Fleas?

A flea infestation in your lawn can be difficult to get rid of. While there are many products you can purchase to DIY, it’s best to call an expert. Eradicating fleas depends upon their life stage and level of infestation. The pros at East Coast Sprayers can evaluate your lawn and provide an insect control treatment that’s right for you. Call us today to get rid of those fleas for good!

Don’t forget to check out our monthly specials for coupons and discounts!

Posted on April 6, 2019 by East Coast Sprayers

Spring in Palm Beach County is a beautiful time of year, and the ideal time to consider lawn fertilization. Caring for your lawn and keeping it looking its best year round can be a challenge. South Florida weather can bring drought conditions and heavy rains, so knowing the right time to fertilize is vital to keeping your grass healthy and growing. That’s where East Coast Sprayers can help!

Why Fertilize My Lawn?

Every living thing needs essentials to survive, and your lawn is no different. You’re supplying it with water and the South Florida sun gives it plenty of light, but your grass needs food! Think of fertilizer as the best plant food for your lawn. Proper fertilization of your turf can provide deeper root growth, reduce weeds, and can protect your lawn from pests and environmental stress.

When is the Best Time to Fertilize in Palm Beach County?

Spring is when everything is blooming and plant life is most active. This is when your grass is actively growing and the optimal time to apply fertilizer. Fertilizing too early may not benefit your grass, as it isn’t able to absorb all the nutrients when it is dormant. Some areas of Palm Beach County have restrictions on fertilizing in the summer which means spring is your best chance at a healthy lawn. Don’t get caught with dead turf for those summer BBQ’s!

What Kind of Fertilizer Should I Use?

Using the right type (granular or liquid), mix and quantity of fertilizer (in additional to when you apply it) is extremely important to sustaining a beautiful lawn. Palm Beach County soil is typically high in phosphorus (one of the key ingredients in fertilizers); applying a fertilizer with too much or too little can cause damage to your lawn. The professionals at East Coast Sprayers will create a fertilizer program to keep your landscape green and healthy all year long, beyond the spring!

Trust the Pros to Fertilize Your Lawn

At the end of the day, it is always best to entrust a professional when it comes to your lawn and landscape. We are trained to know what your grass needs and when it needs it most. Contact East Coast Sprayers today to discuss your springtime lawn fertilization options and let us build a plan to suit your needs!

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