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Aventura Nursery Gardening Blog
​Tips for Fine Florida Gardens

5 Questions to Ask a Lawn Care Company Before You Hire Them

12/27/2019

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Finding the right lawn care company in Hernando County to take care of your yard can seem like a daunting task. There are seemingly thousands of companies to choose from, and no guarantee at the company you hire will perform the work you want at the standard you deserve. While no screening system is perfect, there are questions you can ask any lawn care company you are considering hiring that will increase the likelihood of getting what you want. In an effort to help you find a company that's right for you, today we present you 5 questions that you can ask any potential lawn care company before you hire them.
Two workers load cut green grass into a trailer. The official blog of Aventura Nursery and Landscaping.

The Questions

1. Tell Me About Yourselves

Any lawn care or lawn maintenance company worth hiring should have a history. How long have they been in business? Are they licensed and insured? How many people do they employ? Can they provide references of satisfied customers? Unless you are willing to give a brand new company a shot at your business, these questions are all important to ask.

2. What Professional Qualifications Do You Have?

Would you rather hire a doctor or lawyer with training and experience in their given field or someone who learned their trade watching YouTube videos? The same question can be asked of your lawn care company. Would you rather hire someone with education and experience in the field, or someone who just went out and bought a mower and started cutting grass? Asking your potential lawn maintenance company for their qualifications is a good way to weed out any unqualified companies before you hire them.

3. Can You Help With Landscaping?

Landscaping is an important aspect of lawn care and maintenance. Can your company help you design the lawn that you want? Can they clear and clean up any dead trees, fallen tree limbs, and dead leaves that may be plaguing your yard? If not, it may be a good idea to go with a company who can. You never know what kind of service you may need in the future.

4. What Can I Do Differently?

It is important to receive polite feedback from an expert about what is working and what is not working in your yard. A decent lawn care specialist should be able to tell you where you are getting too much sun or too much shade. This person should also be able to tell you what kind of plants and grass will work the best on your property. Don't be afraid to ask for an honest assessment of your current yard.

5. How Often Do You...?

Good lawn care companies will have a seasonal schedule that they stick to for their customers. They will also have a schedule for performing regular duties such as mowing and special duties such as weeding and leaf pickup. It is important to know when and how often these different services will be performed, and your lawn maintenance company should have a plan of action in place for you before you hire them.
A worker cuts felled trees into smaller pieces. Aventura Nursery in Spring Hill, FL

Call Us!

Aventura Nursery and Landscaping will work with you to develop a strategy for providing all of your lawn care, maintenance, and landscaping needs. Our team of experts know what works and what doesn't in Central Florida. Please give us a call 352-799-3200 today and let us know how we can make your yard the yard of your dreams.
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The Pickleworm: Scourge of Central Florida

12/17/2019

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Being in the nursery and landscaping business in Spring Hill, Florida is wonderful. Living in Florida is wonderful. The year-round sunshine, the beaches, and best of all: no snow! Unfortunately for us Floridians, there are certain pests that enjoy the Sunshine State as much as we do. One such pest is the dreaded Pickleworm.

​The name sounds innocent enough. Perhaps it reminds you of a whimsical character in a children's book. Unfortunately, Diaphania nitidalis (better known as the pickleworm), is a very serious agricultural pest. 
A pickleworm larvae in a Spring Hill, FL garden.

Year round pests in Florida 

Much like those of us who live in Florida, pickleworms don't like cold weather. These pests are mostly found in southeastern states, but have been spotted as far as Illinois, Iowa, and even parts of New York. The life-cycle of a pickleworm is remarkably short. Most of these insects only live for around 30 days. Depending on location, there can be up to four generations of pickleworms per year. There are only two locations where pickleworms are found all year round: Texas and Florida. Lucky us!

Pickleworm Damage 

Pickleworms feast on both wild and cultivated cucurbit species; pumpkins, cucumbers, cantaloupe and squash are all preferred by the pest. The pickleworm's absolute favorite food, however, is the summer squash. Every year, large amounts of damage to summer squash crops can be attributed to the pickleworm. 

​Damage to crops caused by the pickleworm can be observed by the lack of flowers and new leaves on the plant. These are the first parts of the plant to be eaten. Damaged vines and leaves can become riddled with holes and cease to continue growing. Pickleworm larvae also eat the fruit, and have been known to burrow deep into the flesh leaving a trail of white frass in their wake. Yuck! Once these pests are able to burrow into the fruit, the damage done usually results in rotting.
Pickleworm damage

So What Can We Do?!

Fear not my fellow feisty Floridians!​ We can defeat the pickleworm and his dastardly plan for world domination. First and foremost, we can opt for certain varieties of plants that have proven to be resistant to these pests.  Inquiring minds have discovered that the butternut and Golden Hubbard varieties of squash tend to be much less susceptible to pickleworm infestation. If given the opportunity, it may be in your best interest to choose one of these instead of the summer variety.

If prevention has failed and you find yourself face to face with a pickleworm, you may want to consider "Bt pest control." Spraying your crops with Bacillus Turingienis (Bt for short) can be a great strategy. The active ingredient in Bt is a crystal protein which serves to paralyze the insect's digestive tract. The pickleworm will subsequently stop eating and starve to death. Bacillus Turingienis has also been essential in the fight against the West Nile Virus and the pesky mosquitoes that spread it. 

You might also consider adding floating row covers to your crops at night. Pickleworms are most active after dark, so this strategy will substantially decrease the likelihood of infestation. Please remember to remove the covers during the day so that the bees can get to your crops.
A healthy squash plant, free from pickleworm infestation.

Drop By and Say Hello

If you're in the Spring Hill, FL area and have questions about the pickleworm or any other subject pertaining to your Florida garden, please drop by and say hello. We also specialize in landscape design and sod installation. You can also give us a call at 352-799-3200. We would love to hear from you today! 
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This is the logo for Aventura Nursery & Landscaping located in Spring Hill, Fl.  The logo shows a hand grasping a young tree seedling.  The lettering is in several shades of green.
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