Minions Lawn Maintenance, Inc.

10/15/2016

The 2016 fertilizer prohibition period has expired for much of Florida. This University of Florida publication offers some good tips for applying fertilizer. For the fall application, a strong "N" value, low or zero "P" value and moderate "K" value (i.e. 22-0-10) blend should be sufficient for central Florida St. Augustine turf.

A healthy lawn is an important component of an urban landscape. Not only do lawns increase the value of a property, they also reduce soil erosion, filter stormwater runoff, cool the air, and reduce glare and noise. A healthy lawn effectively filters and traps sediment and pollutants that could other...

10/15/2016

Microbes that improve crop yields also improves lawn health.

A research study showed an increase in strawberry yields and profits thanks to microbes that stimulate plant growth.

09/03/2016

Recent heavy rain has insects on the move. They're seeking higher ground offering both food and relief from their saturated homes. Ants, roaches and mosquitoes are prominent inspects on the move in central Florida.

The services of a licensed pest control professional are recommended for bringing insect invaders under control. Those professionals receive lots of training to select the correct product, delivery approach and environmental protections.

For those do-it-yourselfers among us, you will find some effective solutions (no pun intended) over at "http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com". The site offers ample research materials as well as as a product selection that, when used according to application instructions, will help discourage insects from making your home their survival shelter.

As for mosquitoes, the routine precautions are especially important after heavy rainfall. Empty water filled containers, apply a little chlorinated water to plants that retain water (i.e. Bromeliads), standing water should be drained or treated with larvacides, consider adding mosquito dunks to ornamental water fixtures and contact your local County Public Works Department for assistance.

08/28/2016

This sod installation project is coming along nicely. In less than five weeks after installation this lawn is now under routine maintenance.

08/28/2016

A great local news article about the value of mulch with tips about how to apply in your garden.

One of the best things you can do for you garden is to use mulch, which is anything that covers the ground between plants. Mother Nature uses it in all cases. She never lets the ground go bare.

08/04/2016

A recent sod replacement project. Activities included removal of w**d infested turf, testing and replacement of defective irrigation system components, installation of ornamental plants and laying of new sod. Replacement sod is shown 9-days after installation. This lawn will be indistinguishable from established turf within 30-days.

07/24/2016

Great tips for keeping new lawns healthy during the first two months. Avoid the temptation to fertilize during those first couple of months ... it will be counterproductive. A foliar application of blackstrap molasses, after the first thirty days, will help reduce stress when moving to a less frequent watering schedule.

The establishment period starts on the date of installation and is limited to 60 calendar days. Day 1: Newly installed lawns and landscape materials may be irrigated immediately following installation regardless of the time of day.Day 2 – Day 30: New plant materials may be watered any day before 8...

07/23/2016

Our rolling stock increased this week with the addition of 7-tons of dump trailer capacity and a grader/front end loader. We're ready to take on larger sod and landscaping jobs. It is exciting to see our capabilities grow so rapidly this year.

05/14/2016

What is living soil? A hands-on guide to sustainable soil structure management and fertility: soil types, soil structure, pH, biota, soil tests, organic amendments, soil care...

05/05/2016

Gardeners obsess over that stuff in the ground. Year after year, we throw potions and powders at it to break it apart and build it up. But most people don't know dirt about soil. That's a big problem.

05/01/2016

2016 is promising to be a drier year than 2015. Some of us are already using our irrigation systems. As you prepare your residential irrigation system for use, one point to keep in mind is that sprinkler heads which produce larger droplets more closely mimic natural rainfall. Larger droplets are less prone to wind scatter as well as evaporation and are therefore more likely to reach the lawn root system. Below are a few more tips from UNL.

For an irrigation system inspection and/or tune-up, give Minions Lawn Maintenance a call.

1. Measure the amount of water applied in a 15 minute period using collection devices such as tuna or coffee cans. Adjust the runtime to deliver the required amount.

03/26/2016

Several of our team members received their Florida Friendly Best Management Practices certificates this week. The training ensures our employees and consultants are knowledgeable of regulations for protecting Florida's natural resources. Congratulation guys!