Coastal Quality Services, Inc.

Spring is Here

Trimming & Pruning Damage from Winter, Proper pruning enhances the beauty of almost any landscape tree and shrub, while improper pruning can ruin or greatly reduce its landscape potential. Pruning, like any other skill, requires knowing what you are doing to achieve success. The old idea that anyone with a chain saw or a pruning saw can be a landscape pruner is far from the truth. Remember that pruning is the removal or reduction of certain plant parts that are not required, that are no longer effective, or that are of no use to the plant. It is done to supply additional energy for the development of flowers, fruits, and limbs that remain on the plant. Pruning essentially involves removing plant parts to improve the health, landscape effect, or value of the plant. After the winter months, you may need to lightly trim shrubs and trees to remove damage. The pruning will promote new growth and add density to shrubs.

Repair Sod Damage, The important thing in repairing a lawn is to match the new, with what you already have in place so it's a nice blend and they don’t conflict. For example, if you have Bahia Grass you don’t want to repair with Floratam because you hear it’s plush. They are two different types of grass that shouldn't be mixed. Now, if the bad areas are small less than a foot in diameter, wait and monitor them for a month or so, they'll fill by themselves. Areas larger than a foot and then it's time to take some action.

Rainy Season

Rainy season is here, June – September has an average of 8 inches of rain per month, when the rest of the months in the year average 2 inches of rain. The combination of excessive moisture and extreem heat create the perfect environment for Fungus. The summer of 2011, Fungus was among us and difficult to contain. Early detection, proper treatment and follow up applications are crucial in controling the fungal disease. Fungus ussually shows by light green or yellowing green rings in your normally green lawn. These rings turn to circles then areas, Fungus has other ways of showing its self and a variety of forms. Mushrooms are a fungus but are not a cause of damage to your lawn.

Winter's Coming

A little attention to your landscape in the fall can make it look great the rest of the year. Time to get mulching.

9 Tips for Winter. Why not 10? ‘Cause we didn’t need it.

1. Fertilize Less, Southern lawns like Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine and centipede grasses, largely go dormant in winter months and don't need fertilizer. However, Fertilizing can be extended year-round* in South Florida. A ‘Soil Test’ is an excellent way to determine if you're giving your lawn what it needs. It will give you information like soil pH and nutrient levels, and provide recommendations for fertilizer amounts. *Contact your local government agency for certain chemical restrictions or time limits.

Fire Prevention

Guarding your home against brush fires is a major concern for any home owner. Drought or extreme dry conditions are major factors in contributing to brush fires that may cause property damage. The lack of rain throughout the state of Florida during the past few years has caused lower than normal water tables. This considerably raises the risk of flash fires due to dry vegetation. Fortunately, there are simple steps that homeowners can follow to minimize the overall risk of fires.

Many fire preventative measures can be included in our maintenance program (Lawn & Landscape Maintenance).  Regular maintenance of your lawn and landscape can reduce fire hazards around your home. Controlling and removing tall dry grass, dead leaves,