Mosquito Care in Sarasota/Bradenton

Mosquitoes have always been considered an annoyance.  The trouble began with the first European explorers landing on Florida.  Their writings show that the problem was so severe that the explorers would actually bury themselves on the beach at night.  They did this to protect themselves from the mosquitoes.  Even back then, people were aware that mosquitoes cause and spread diseases.  Some of those diseases include the west nile virus, malaria, st. louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, and more!

Mosquitoes not only feed on blood, but they also eat plant nectar.  It is usually the females that consume animal blood and bite humans.  There are certain nutrients and proteins that the female mosquito requires to be able to lay eggs and successfully reproduce.  Many counties, including Sarasota county, have agencies that try to control mosquitoes and prevent them from reproducing.  Even with these procedures in effect, there are still things the average person can do to help keep the mosquito population under control.  

Inspecting a few things around the house can ensure that your family's risk for a mosquito borne illness is low.  First, repair any broken screens at your windows, doors, porches, and patios.  If given the opportunity mosquitoes will invade your home and make a meal out of you while you sleep.  Next, drain any standing water in or around your lawn.  Clear out old tires, cans and bottles, or anything you are not using that has the ability to collect any water.  The smallest amount of standing water can have thousands of mosquito eggs in it.

Avoid going outside at dusk and dawn if you can.  At these times of the day, mosquitoes are most prevalent.  If you can not escape going outside, then wear protective clothing and mosquito repellent   A repellent that contains DEET has been proven to be the most effective at warding off mosquitoes.  The best way of protecting yourself is to dress in loose-fitting long pants and shirts that cover as much of your skin as possible.

For any questions or more specific information, please call Alex Mendoza Landscaping at 941-518-9424.  We proudly serve Sarasota and Manatee counties.  We are a dependable lawn care service provider that also specializes in tree work,bobcat work, and total yard clean-up!

To sod or to seed?......That is the question - Sarasota Lawn Care

Many people wonder whether to sod or seed their lawns.  Most want to know which is more cost effective or which method's final product will look better.   Unfortunately, there is no "one size fits all" answer.  There are both pros and cons for each method.  Depending on your lawn's individual needs and how fast you need the work completed has the potential to alter what technique you decide to utilize.  Whichever process you select (whether it is seed or sod) for your lawn has one very important aspect that remains the same: planning and preparation.

The great thing about sod is that it is quite versatile.  There is no set time frame of merely a few months when sod can be laid down.  Sod can be put down practically all year long!  The only time sod is incapable of being installed is if the soil is frozen or if there is snow on the ground.  In some cases, erosion or problems with weeds can be solved or repaired by properly preparing the ground and laying the sod.

Sod's best feature is that once the project is completed the final look of the lawn is appealing and attractive. Although there are many positive attributes when  using sod, there are a few disadvantages.  Sodding your lawn has the potential of being quite expensive, but there are reputable companies that offer fair pricing.  Also, seeding has a much wider variety of grasses and turfs to choose from than sod.

The seed method has some advantages over sod. Seeding your yard can give the same lush, beautiful look as sodding, if you have the time and patience to wait for it to grow.  One of the benefits to seeding is that there is a wider variety of grasses and different turfs to select for your project.  The initial root structure of the grass when seeding is stronger and more developed than sod.  One of the best aspects of seeding is that it is less expensive and more economical than sod.

Seeding your lawn has the potential for a few drawbacks.  First, there are only a few months out of the year that are just right for seeding.  The amount of rainfall, soil and air temperatures, and other aspects influence seed germination.  Initial seedlings require lots of moisture, so you will have to spend a lot of time watering your newly seeded lawn.  While this seems like a small disadvantage, failure to water correctly will have an effect on the quality of your grass that you will not be able to fix or repair after the fact.

Making the final decision on whether to use seed or sod can be challenging and frustrating if you do not have all the details.  These are general guidelines and information about seeding and sodding.  For more specific knowledge or information please call us at (941)518-9424!  You can also visit our website and contact us!