Massey Blog

Chilli thrips infestations started popping up in late Spring this year, with several severe cases observed in October.  Last year chilli thrips populations seemed to explode in October as well and persisted well into January and even February in some parts of Florida.  Cold snaps were short and sandwiched in between 80 degree days allowing them to survive in bark cracks and crevices, and in mulch.

This invasive pest has no natural enemies, feeds on over 100 plant species, is extremely small and can re-infest very quickly from adjacent landscapes.  Symptoms may include leaf curling, twisting, stunting, bunching, scarring, and/or loss of leaves.

In most cases our GreenUP Landscape Program can keep populations suppressed to avoid significant damage and plant loss.  There may be “hot spots” where populations get out of control and control is difficult.  We aren’t able to predict where these may occur at this time, but we have a more intensive treatment regimen available for use in such situations which can prevent plant loss.

Recovery from chilli thrips damage is very slow going into the winter months, but if treatments are successful, new spring growth will improve the appearance of plants dramatically.

To find out more about our GreenUP Landscape Service, sign up for a Free Landscape Inspection Today.

Frost and freeze warnings come few and far between in Florida and generally happen in the northern part of the state.  However, when they do come, homeowners need to be prepared to protect their landscape from potentially damaging temperatures.

There is a frost warning in and around the following counties for tonight thru Thursday:  Leon, Flagler, Volusia, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Lake, Marion, Sumter, Duval and Clay.

If you live in and around these counties, here are some things you can do to protect your landscape:

• Run your irrigation system for one cycle tonight before going to sleep - 15 minutes per zone for rotary heads and 5 minutes per zone for spray heads
• Cover your cold sensitive shrubs and ornamentals with sheets or blankets
• Do not walk across or mow your lawn if there is frost present

If you have questions, whether you're a Massey customer or not, please call us at 1-888-2MASSEY and we can help.

Bundle up and keep warm!

It's finally starting to feel like Fall in the Southeast.  As the colder temperatures become more frequent, you should be aware of the effects on your lawn.

Why Does My Lawn Turn Brown and Yellow During The Fall and Winter?
As a homeowner, this can be very frustrating.  You have a green, lush lawn and it begins to turn brown and yellow.  Well, different grass types have different ways of surviving the Fall and Winter weather conditions. 

Some grasses have natural "hibernation" periods that preserve energy for the spring.  Zoysiagrass for example, will go dormant in the Fall and Winter months and turn yellow and brown.  This is a normal reaction for this grass type under adverse conditions and loss of color is common.

St. Augustinegrass, on the other hand, usually maintains acceptable color and quality well into the cool season until frost occurs.  A hard freeze often causes brown patchy areas.

Fall/Winter Lawn Tips:

• Mow your lawn about once very two weeks, even if it's not growing, to keep weeds from seeding
• If a freeze occurs, avoid walking across the lawn and mowing until frost is melted
• Provide adequate irrigation - watering once per week is generally sufficient

Call us if you have questions about your lawn and what it should do during the Fall and Winter months.  You can also sign up for a Free Landscape Analysis where we'll provide you with recommendations and a plan specific for your landscape.

If you haven’t heard too much about chilli thrips, you will soon. These tiny, almost transparent, insects appeared in Florida a few years ago and are here to stay. They attack growing parts of plants and shrubs, feeding primarily on young leaves, buds and fruits.

Chilli thrips damage can be seen on the surface of the plants they feed on, which will typically appear shiny silver at first and then become yellow to greenish brown in color. If you find chilli thrips on your plants, remove the infected plant parts and discard completely. To minimize the damage done by chili thrips, early detection is essential to prevent full-scale infestation.

Keep your landscape protected this summer – contact Massey Services today for your free, detailed landscape inspection.

Chinch bugs are one of the most difficult-to-control and damaging insects in St. Augustinegrass.  They are tiny, hard-to-see insects that cause damage often confused with drought stress. They suck the juices from grass blades and inject toxins back into the blades, causing them to wilt and turn yellow and brown. If you examine the grass near the soil surface [usually in dry areas of your lawn], you can often see these red or black insects. Proper monitoring, mowing and irrigation are essential in keeping chinch bugs out of your St. Augustine lawn.

Our Massey GreenUP services can provide continuous protection from chinch bugs throughout the Spring and Summer seasons. Just contact Massey Services for your free, detailed landscape inspection to get started.