As we welcome the autumn season, it brings forth unique challenges, both environmental and biological, that demand our attention. At Dave’s Pest Control, we are committed to sharing our expertise on maintaining the health and vitality of your lawn, even as the fall season unfolds.
Types of Grass we find in Florida
In Florida, several grass types thrive due to the state’s warm and humid climate. The most common grass types include:
- St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum): Widely used in Florida, St. Augustinegrass is known for its tolerance to heat and shade. It has broad, coarse blades and establishes a dense turf.
- Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum): Bahiagrass is known for its adaptability to various soil types and its resistance to pests and diseases. It’s often used in lawns, pastures, and roadside plantings.
- Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides): Preferred for its low maintenance requirements, centipedegrass has a fine to medium texture and a light green color. It is suitable for lawns with low to moderate foot traffic.
- Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon): Commonly used in athletic fields and golf courses, Bermudagrass is known for its durability and ability to withstand heavy traffic. It thrives in full sunlight.
- Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.): Zoysiagrass is appreciated for its dense, lush growth and tolerance to both heat and cold. It forms a thick carpet-like turf and is often chosen for lawns and golf courses.
- Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum): As the name suggests, seashore paspalum is well-suited for coastal areas due to its salt tolerance. It is often used in golf courses near the coast.
- Transition to Fall:
With the advent of fall, there is a gradual transformation in our surroundings. The days are becoming shorter, and a noticeable drop in temperature is underway. These seasonal shifts exert a significant influence on the circadian rhythms of numerous organisms, including us, resulting in the emergence of new behavioral patterns.
- Seasonal Insects:
As nature transitions from summer to fall, various insect species, such as ants and termites, embark on their annual flights in response to these climatic changes. Following heavy rains and shifting weather patterns, many insects take to the skies, forming new colonies.
- Insect Reproduction:
Each passing season witnesses the reproduction of numerous insect species, replacing aging generations. The cycle of life continues, adapting to the evolving conditions.
- Daylight Saving Time:
The cooling of weather and shorter days signify the need for resetting our clocks, an act commonly known as Daylight Saving Time. While we adjust the hands of our clocks backward by an hour, our internal circadian rhythms face a more challenging realignment. It can take up to a week to adapt to this one-hour difference, reminiscent of jet lag when crossing time zones.
- Biological Clocks:
Insects, like humans, are influenced by circadian rhythms, although not to the same extent. Biological clocks are pivotal in enabling organisms to adapt to the cyclic changes in their environment. This intrinsic timekeeping system is a fundamental component of survival for all living creatures, playing multifaceted roles.
- Navigation and Biological Clocks:
Studies reveal that insects rely on their internal clocks, closely tied to light and temperature, for various behaviors. Some insects, like European honey bee workers, employ specialized dances, known as “waggle dances,” to communicate information about food sources. This navigational trait, akin to a “solar compass,” guides them accurately. Monarch butterflies and other creatures utilize celestial navigation techniques, relying on the earth’s magnetic field, moon, and stars, thanks to their biological clocks.
- Origins of Circadian Clocks:
Circadian clocks are believed to originate from an organism’s central nervous system, specifically in the optic lobes of the brain. Removal of parts of this brain tissue in invertebrates like crickets results in severe disruptions to their behavior and survival. This mechanism for measuring daylight likely evolved early in the history of life on Earth.
- Bed Bugs and Circadian Rhythms:
Even bed bugs adhere to an internal biological clock, determining when they feed. While they can detect carbon dioxide from our breath, they prefer to feed between 2 am and 5 am, a behavior adapted to target humans during their deepest sleep. This strategy minimizes their chances of detection and immediate eradication.
- Diapause and Dormancy:
Certain insects enter diapause, a period of suspended development triggered by changes in daylight, temperature, and environmental conditions. Comparable to hibernation, diapause is characterized by metabolic changes in insects. In cold temperatures, dormant states, similar to hibernation, are entered by insects like paper wasps, yellow jackets, and mosquitoes, waiting for warmer conditions.
- Lawn Dormancy and Rejuvenation:
In northern states, grass types such as Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and fescue undergo dormancy during winter. Lawns take on a frozen, pale brown hue, marked by the scattering of red, orange, and yellow leaves, followed by the cover of snow and ice. Biological processes pause, and no external nutrients are required as grass lies in a suspended state.
With the return of warmth and sunlight after months of dormancy under snow and ice, lawns reawaken, transforming brown, lifeless grass into vibrant green growth.
- Dormant Bugs:
Similar to dormant lawns, fleas and bedbugs can remain inactive until conditions become favorable for feeding. Adult bed bugs can survive for up to a year without a blood meal, while bed bug nymphs can endure for three months without feeding.
- Implications for Space Travel:
The ability of certain organisms to suspend their metabolic activity for extended periods may hold implications for human survival during prolonged space travel beyond our galaxy.
- Disease Management in Lawn Care:
At Dave’s Pest Control, our proficient lawn technicians possess substantial expertise in managing lawn diseases. In the fall weather of Volusia and Flagler Counties, characterized by cool nights and daytime humidity, turf diseases can become a concern. Fungicides are essential tools for disease control, although their effectiveness may vary based on the specific disease affecting your lawn.
- Common Lawn Diseases:
- Large Patch Disease: Primarily affecting warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, centipedegrass, seashore paspalum, and zoysiagrass, this fungus causes dark brown patches at the grass’s base, which can be easily detached.
- Take all Root Rot: An underground disease that affects root health, resulting in darkened roots. Grass leaves turn yellow and die off irregularly.
- Dollar Spot: This disease, caused by soil-dwelling fungi, forms small circular patches and leads to visible yellowing on grass leaves.
- Fairy Ring Disease: This condition presents varied symptoms, including dead ring-shaped spots and circular patches of stimulated growth.
- Understanding Fungus Spread:
Fungi require three essential ingredients for growth: food, water, and oxygen. Removing one of these elements can disrupt spore reproduction, forming the basis of disease management.
- Fungicides and Their Mode of Action:
Fungicides target specific areas within fungal genomes, disrupting cell membranes of spores. Controlling fungi damaging turf grasses requires an understanding of grass type, local weather conditions, the presence of surrounding trees, and lawn care practices.
- Disease Spore Prevention:
Disease spores can inadvertently spread from one lawn to another through mowing services. Cleanliness and maintenance of lawn mowers and tools are crucial in mitigating this risk.
- Identifying Lawn Diseases:
Recognizing the signs of different turf diseases is pivotal, as each may require specific treatment approaches.
- Benefits of Fungicides:
In the agricultural context, more than 85% of American crops receive fungicide treatment each growing season. The benefits outweigh the risks, safeguarding billions of dollars in crop production.
- Thatch Layer and Disease:
Fungi often target the thatch layer of turf grass, composed of decaying organic matter. Management includes soil aeration to facilitate organic matter breakdown. Specialized dethatching rakes are also available but are labor-intensive.
- Lawn Care Tips:
To minimize the risk of lawn diseases, it is advisable to water lawns in the morning, allowing time for grass to dry before evening. Frequent fertilization encourages healthy turf growth, making it more resilient against fungi.
If you suspect any issues with your lawn this fall, please do not hesitate to contact us at Dave’s Pest Control. We are here to offer expert guidance and support for your lawn care needs.
Best regards,
Dan Coffey
Dcoffey@davespestcontrol.com