Father and Son Pest and Lawn Solutions

11/02/2026

10/30/2026

SHOULD YOU FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN IN THE WINTER?

Although grass is not actively growing in the winter, there is some nutrition it can benefit from, namely potassium.
Potassium is one of the main nutrients the grass uses to build root structure and roots are where the grass stores energy it will need when it comes out of dormancy in the spring. Our Emerald Coast soil is also extremely low on potassium and potassium leaches through the soil once it is applied, limiting the full benefit the grass gets from it. For all these reasons, it IS a good idea to fertilize your lawn with potassium through the winter. When applying potassium, look for a fertilizer such as an 0-0-62 that is all potassium and NO nitrogen.

Are you having problems keeping your lawn healthy? I offer free lawn consultations! PM call or text me at 850-240-7935

10/29/2026

WHY SOD NEVER LOOKS AS GOOD AS IT DID RIGHT AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED.

This is a question I get frequently. Here is the answer: It is next to impossible to replicate the growing conditions at the farm the sod was grown at. Sod farms grow their grass in rich soil, they have hundreds of acres of wide open fields with
absolutely no shade or root competition from trees, the grass is under an intensive fertilizer program to optimize growth, watered with precise, computer controlled irrigation systems and is constantly being treated to prevent insects, w**ds and disease.
When the sod is harvested and planted as a residential lawn, that lawn most likely has poor soil, it has native trees and landscape plants competing with the grass for water, sunlight and nutrients, the irrigation system is probably imperfect. And instead of constantly applying preventative disease and insect control, it is being treated reactively when those problems occur.
So, don’t be frustrated that your lawn never looked as good as it did right after it was installed because very difficult to replicate the intensive care the grass was grown under at the sod farm.

Are you having problems keeping your lawn healthy? I offer FREE LAWN CONSULTATIONS. PM, text or call me at ‪850-240-7935‬.

10/28/2026

SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED IF YOU FIND GRUBS IN YOUR SOIL?

Anyone who has turned over a shovel of dirt in their yard has probably discovered at least one grub worm in the soil.
Most grubs are the larval stage of a beetle. They live in the soil and feed on plant roots for up to 3 years before pupating and turning into a beetle.
In northern areas of the county, the populations of these insects do pose a problem, and the populations of grubs can be so dense that they cause the grass to decline and require treatment.
However, in our area, the populations of these beetles is not significant enough to pose a threat to the health of the lawn and require no action to control them.

Are you having problems keeping your lawn healthy? Contact me for a FREE LAWN CONSULTATION! PM, call or text me at 850-240-7935

10/27/2026

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT MUSHROOMS GROWING IN YOUR LAWN?

Mushrooms grow off of decomposing roots and stumps under the ground and pop up when moisture and temperature conditions are conducive for the spores to grow (usually cool, wet spring and fall weather). They don’t harm the grass and there is no product they make to treat them with. Once the weather turns cold or warms up, depending on the season, they will go away. In the mean time the only other option is to pluck them.

Are you having problems keeping your lawn healthy? I offer FREE LAWN CONSULTATIONS! PM, call or text me at 850-240-7935

10/23/2026

HOW TO CORRECTLY APPLY MULCH AROUND A TREE OR SHRUB.

It's commonly thought that the proper way to apply mulch around a tree or shrub is to pile it up against the trunk to create a "volcano" around the plant. However, burying the trunk in mulch can cause decay, consequently killing the plant. The trunk should be kept clear of mulch all the way down to the top of the root ball. If you want to apply a heavy application of much to prevent w**ds you can create a "whirlpool" around the tree where the mulch is pulled back away from the trunk and is thicker as it gets farther away from the tree.

Are you having problems keeping your lawn healthy? Contact me for a FREE LAWN CONSULTATION! PM, call or text me at 850-240-7935

10/22/2026

HOW TO KILL TREE STUMPS TO KEEP THEM FROM SPROUTING BACK.

Certain trees and shrubs will try to grow back from the stump after they are cut down. Grinding or digging the stump out can involve a lot of work or expense.
One way to make sure the plant doesn’t try to regrow after cutting it down is to apply brush and stump killer to the stump after it is freshly cut. The stump will absorb the treatment, which will travel down and kill the roots, preventing the tree from resprouting.
Dribble Brush and Stump Killer on a freshly cut or apply with a paint brush.
If the stump is not fresh, cut a slice off the top of the stump before treating it.
You can find Brush and Sump Killer and most any garden store

Are you having trouble keeping your lawn healthy? Contact me for a FREE LAWN CONSULTATION, text or call me ‪850-240-7935‬!

10/21/2026

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO OVER-SEED YOUR LAWN WITH RYE GRASS IN THE WINTER?

Rye is a winter grass that germinates from seed and grows well in temperatures below 80°.
Spreading rye seed over your lawn in the fall will keep the lawn green throughout the winter. Is this something you should do?
Although having a green lawn through the winter looks nice, there are a number of drawbacks to over seeding a lawn with rye grass.
First, your maintenance is increased. If you enjoy mowing the lawn so much you want to continue on mowing though the winter, that’s not a problem. However, keeping the ryegrass healthy becomes a push-pull when it comes to the permanent warm season grass that is trying to go into dormancy. Ryegrass will need to be fertilized with nitrogen to get it to grow well. Warm season turf grasses should not have nitrogen applied to them when they are dormant. The rye grass also pulls other nutrients from the soil the permanent grass uses during the growing season.
Another problem is watering. Ryegrass should be watered regularly. However this can also cause disease to develop in the permanent warm season grass underneath.
Generally speaking, over seeding with rye grass increases maintenance and is not healthy or the established permanent grass.

Are you having problems keeping your lawn healthy? I offer FREE LAWN CONSULTATIONS! PM, call or text me at 850-240-7935

10/20/2026

IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO INSALL NEW SOD?

I recently received this question from a customer wanting to know if it was alright to install sod now or wait until it warms up.
Here is my answer: Yes now, is a good time to lay sod. There’s less stress on the new sod with the cooler weather as it roots in. Be careful not to over water it though. Right now you would water 2-3 times a week for new sod would be plenty.
Once the weather gets warm next spring, the grass will already be established and ready for fertilizer and preventative w**d control.

Are you having problems keeping your lawn healthy? I offer FREE LAWN CONSULTATIONS! PM, call or text me at 850-240-7935