Battle those  Fire Ants this Fall

Do you hate those dreaded little outdoor party crashers? You know who I am talking about, fire ants. We all know that living in Georgia requires us to deal with a lot of things like the heat, gnats, and fire ants.

             The fall time of the year is one of the best times of the year to get a jump start on next year’s ant population in your yard. During the fall of the year, ants are getting ready for the winter and storing up food. Ant baits become more because of the food storage and high level of ant activity. The ants are also closer to the surface because of the cooler temperatures. The cool nights and shorter days bring the ants, along with the queen, closer to the surface. Another great reason to treat ants during the fall is the hardness of the cold winter. Just like any other animal, ants will struggle during the winter cold and with the combination of the baits it will take a large impact on the ant population.

The big question that everyone has is, how do we treat them during the fall?  It is a little harder because small colonies could be any where in your landscape, so a good broadcast application of an insecticide will help treat those small colonies that are still under the ground. Also, treating the mounds that you see around the landscape will help control those large mounds.

I hope you find these simple tips helpful this fall during your battle against those pesky fire ants. If we can be of any help to you on this conquest, please feel free to email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Get out and enjoy this fall season.

Centipede Grass Decline

       Did you find some spots on your centipede lawn that did not come back from last summer? If so this could centipede grass decline. Centipede decline is the failure to green up in the spring or green up followed by a decline and death in late spring and summer. Many factors contribute to this problem, but it can be managed with proper practices. This practices includes not over

fertilizing , managing thatch accumulation, watering during stress periods, and proper mowing height.

        Here are a few items to take in to consideration when looking at your lawn.

· Was the grass yellowing in the fall?

· Was the grass dark green most of the previous summer?

· Can the turf be pulled up easily?

· Is the ground hard or compacted?

· Has the grass turned a light green or curled up during dry weather?

· Has the grass died in defined circles in the turf area?

        If you have seen some of these factors in your yard and now you notice large dead spots then you may have centipede grass decline. This turf problem can be managed by using simple management practices. Make sure the soil is properly prepared before installation of grass in areas, follow proper fertilization practices, understand and follow mowing heights and thatch limits, and understand proper water management practices. Following these simple steps will ensure an outstanding lawn for many years to come.