Fresh Healthy Sod cut daily! Delivered to your home & installed by a professional sod installer.

Why is Heron’s Sod the best? It’s all in the health of the soil & growing conditions of the sod before it ever reaches your lawn. Heron sod is grown in healthy soil that is high in nutrient concentration. The soil has been pretreated for fungus, insects, mold, has the proper PH & nutrient concentration. Quality growing conditions produce top quality sod right off the sod farm using muck a based process.

Heron’s sod is superior quality!

All Sod is NOT Created Equal! We see it time & time again where homeowner’s have bought sod only to see it die within weeks. Often times in these cases, the sod hasn’t had proper pretreatment or healthy growing conditions. We’ve seen numerous cases where the new sod is untreated and arrives to your home with brown patch fungus, pythium root rot & sod web worms. After the sod is laid, these damaging insects, fungus & diseases spread infecting the rest of your lawn. You may save some money on the front end by purchasing cheaper sod but lose thousands by having to replace your entire lawn. Be sure to ask how your sod has been treated prior to it arriving at your home.

What type of sod does Heron offer? The most common sod is St. Augustine including shade varieties & Floratam. We also have Zoysia and Bermuda. If you have a special request, we can typically meet your needs.

How does Heron’s sod cutting & delivery process yield thriving sod with best results? Heron is one of few companies that cut the sod at night, completely cover it & deliver the next morning. This ensures the least amount of time from when the sod is cut until being installed. This is key to keeping the sod fresh & moist so it’s in the healthiest condition upon arrival. After the sod is cut, it never sees sunlight before it’s laid in your lawn. This gives your sod the healthiest start & best opportunity to thrive.

It is common practice in the sod industry to cut sod in the mornings, load it on a truck & deliver the next day. This is not ideal because the sod has set in the sun often times for 24 hours or more to wilt, dehydrate all day long & endure immense stress. It’s difficult for distressed sod to take root & thrive.

Why is muck based sod more resilient than sand or loam based sod? Heron uses muck grown sod as opposed to sand or loam grown sod which is an unparallel difference in quality. Muck based sod refers to the type of soil the sod is grown in. Muck based soil holds water & nutrients better yielding the healthiest sod as opposed to sand or loam grown sod. Because sand is so porous, it lets both water & nutrients flow out. Sod grown in sand doesn’t maintain the proper hydration or nutrients. Muck based sod is grown in nutrient rich soil with a healthy organic makeup and tends to take root better when laid giving your sod the healthiest start & best results.

How is muck based sod more economical? Because muck based sod holds in water better than sand or loam based sod, it requires less watering costing you less to irrigate.

When do I water my sod? Before sod is even laid, soil should be moist. It is crucial that your new sod gets watered immediately after installation. Note there are no watering restrictions on newly laid sod. New sod should be watered at least twice a day receiving ¼ to ½” of water each time. For the best accuracy, set out cups & measure the amount of water hitting the sod to ensure your sod is receiving proper amount of water. This is critical and often overlooked. Improper watering can result in your sod deteriorating.

Why is a locate service prior to sod installation important? Heron arranges a locate service before installation. This ensures that we are aware of cable & internet lines running underground in your lawn. If you are using another sod company, request that they use a locate service because if they cut a line, the cost incurred for repairs typically falls on the homeowner.

Call today for your free lawn analysis & sod estimate!

Put away your shotguns & machetes, step out of the bomb shelter. This army is not wearing fatigues or carrying machine guns, they are however lethal when they launch an attack on your lawn.

What army is invading Florida you ask?  Army worms!

Many pests that attack turf grass are predictable like chinch bugs, mole crickets and crabgrass. We see these pests often and know what to expect. Other pests that are less predictable can be the biggest challenge. Army worms fall into this category.

Army worms get their name because they often travel in groups. They attack by chewing on the leaf blades of grass decimating large areas at a time. Their meals of preference are St. Augustine & Burmuda Grass. An infestation of army worms can destroy a lawn in days.

“We’re receiving an influx of calls from homeowner’s in Orlando and throughout Central Florida who have army worms in their lawns.  If treated right away, we stop the army worms before they cause much destruction.  If left untreated, the result can be devastating and end with a lawn needing a full sod replacement.  A proactive approach is the best defense, treating the lawn to protect it from army worms to begin with. –Steve Okros, Entomologist.

Some signs to look for are areas of grass that look like they have been mowed too short or you may even see brown patches. When an infestation is extreme, the lawn can even appear as though it is moving. You may also see birds flocking to the lawn to feast on the army worms. Like many pests, often times when you see the signs, extensive damage has already been done.

What do these fierce soldiers look like? Army worms are hairless caterpillars. They can range in color from tan to olive green with yellow stripes running down the body. Dark circles are present on the midsection & a recognizable inverted yellow or white Y is present on the head.

Army worms have 3 life cycles: Female moths lay eggs in clusters of 50-150 laying up to 2,000 eggs in her lifespan. The female moth covers the egg mass with hair which looks like felt. The eggs hatch into caterpillars. Fully grown army worms are approx. 1.5 inches long. Grown army worms burrow themselves into the soil. After about two weeks, they emerge as moths. Then the lifecycle repeats itself.

You can’t assume that spraying one application of insecticides will alleviate army worms. They have multiple generations and often times the first generation is eliminated and the second is not. Another rising problem in Florida is that army worms becoming resistant to insecticides.

Think you may have army worms? While it is always best to have a licensed pest control professional perform an inspection, there is a simple test you can do on your own… a soapy water flush. Mix a bucket of water with 2 tablespoons of dishwashing detergent. Pour the mixture over 1 square yard of

Even superman himself can’t save the day from these villains. Resistant chinch bugs wreak havoc on Central Florida lawns. These pesky invaders have become resistant to every major chemical used against them, leaving St. Augustine lawns destroyed throughout the state of Florida.

Chinch bugs are the most common threat to St. Augustine lawns in Florida and by far the most difficult insect-pest to control. Chinch bugs attack grass by sucking out the nutrients from the leaf blades & regurgitating poisonous chemicals back into the plant killing the grass. When chinch bugs attack a lawn, the only choices are to treat with insecticides or to watch the lawn die.

Though an adult female chinch bug only live 2 months, they lay up 300 eggs in this short life span. Because of this rapid population growth, a small area of chinch bug damage can quickly overtake a lawn if left untreated. Even worse, chinch bug populations, known as super chinch bugs or resistant chinch bugs, have become immune to pesticides. An integrated pest management program must be implemented to control a chinch bug infestation.

Only the newer classification of insecticides called Neonicotinoids will control these “bugs of steel”. These newer insecticides cost 10 times more on average than traditional insecticides so make sure your lawn spray company uses them.

If you have any questions about resistant chinch bugs, email cvandergriff@heronlawnandpest.com. An expert entomologist will answer your questions.

Green pest control…A Responsible solution that is effective in fighting the toughest of pests in Central Florida!

Heron Lawn & Pest control is proud to be a green company! “Now more than ever it is the responsibility of everyone to take the right steps today to give our environment a greener healthier future & we couldn’t be prouder to play a part.”-Rodney Lackey, CEO

Heron Lawn & Pest Control is committed to being environmentally responsible in all its practices. Heron provides its customers with green friendly pest prevention services as well as lawn fertilization & termite control & prevention.

Here are some of the ways Heron is green!

1. Heron’s Proactive Approach through Integrated Pest Management. Technicians thoroughly inspect, assess, & then treat.

2. Custom Applications: Heron applies appropriate products as they are needed. No pre mixed products! Each application is custom blended for the property’s needs.

3. Heron uses Environmentally Favorable Products

4. Heron’s Unwavering Commitment on Research & Investing in the Best Products

5. GPS Monitored Vehicles: Creates less fuel consumption, emissions & more efficient routing.

6. Sales fleet of eco friendly vehicles: Averaging 36 mpg.

7. We RECYCLE!

8. Led by expert Entomologists: Florida conditions change as pests become immune to products. Our entomologists stay current on the on local conditions & implement the most environmentally conscious ways to treat problems with most effective products. Heron’s entomologists conduct ongoing training to service consultants & technicians and conduct ongoing research of new products.

9. BMP Certified: Green Industries Best Management Practices certified with an in-house BMP instructor. Certification is achieved through extensive education & BMP course completion. With BMP knowledge & implementation, Heron practices best methods to protect water resources in Florida and increase environmental knowledge & awareness throughout the pest control industry.

10. Lawn Programs are lake friendly allowing buffer zone and phosphorus free fertilizers.

Heron offers green pest control to the following areas: Orlando, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Lake Mary, Heathrow, Oviedo, Longwood, Winter Springs, Maitland, Casselberry, Sanford, Chuluota, Dr. Phillips, Windermere, Clermont, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Celebration, Lake Nona, Kissimmee, Hunter’s Creek, St. Cloud, Haines City, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Villages, Mt. Dora, Groveland, Ocala, Deland, Deltona, Debary, Orange City, Flagler Beach, Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach & more.

It’s summer time and they’re out to play! Yeah you guessed it, bugs, bugs & more bugs! Bugs & pests in Central Florida are here to stay. They’re looking for three things food, water & shelter…sound familiar? Yup, the exact same things we humans need to survive. This is why your home is a perfect target for bugs & pests to call home.

While a pest control professional is the best guarantee to rid your home of these creepy crawlers, there are some easy steps homeowners can take to help:

1. Your countertops are a delectable 7 course meal to bugs & pests. Avoid leaving food on your countertops. Seal as much of your food as possible in air tight storage containers…especially fruit! Because bugs can get into the most tightly sealed packaging, consider storing many of your dried goods like pasta, cereal, sugar, flour etc in containers.

2. Wash those dishes! Leaving dishes in the sink to soak or wash later is an open invitation to bugs & pests!

3. Drips! The little ones may do a great job pouring their own syrup or honey. You cheer them on and put the bottle away in the pantry. However, drips down the rim & side of the jar are bug magnets. Be sure to wipe bottles clean after use including honey, syrup, oil peanut butter, etc.

4. Be neat where you eat! It’s inevitable…even the most well mannered eaters drop crumbs. Limit the areas that you eat to the kitchen/dining room. Eating in bedrooms, living rooms etc. exposes the whole house to crumbs, which bugs love!

5. Check for leaks & moisture under sinks & drains frequently. This is a common water source for bugs & pests.

6. Bugs & pests are always looking for a way in to your home from outside. Check windows & screens for holes. Caulk & seal any perimeter areas on the exterior of your home that need it. Place screens on anything connecting the outside to the inside including dryer vents.

7. Properly seal windows & doors. If you see daylight coming through sides, top or bottom of the door, the door may be closed… but is wide open for bugs & pests.

8. Fido’s food bowl…an open buffet! Avoid leaving pet food in the bowl around the clock. Bugs aren’t picky eaters…pet food, people food, it’s all the same. Limit pet feeding times & wash out the pet bowl after each use.

9. Rinse before recycling! Rinse out plastic, glass & metal containers that are being recycled.

10. Is your trash clean? Probably not, but be sure to rinse out garbage cans once a month. A scrub brush & a garden hose do the trick well! Also, always keep lids on your trash cans.

11. Do you have a bird bath or a bug bath? Standing dirty water is a bug haven. Clean out your bird baths often. Even children’s toys in the lawn can fill up with water attracting bugs.

12. Trim bushes, trees, shrubs & flower beds that touch your home. Bugs love foliage & foliage is a bridge to your home. Trimming regularly reduces the risk of infestations.

If you have any questions or would like to have a pest control professional eliminate your home of bugs & pests guaranteed Call 1-800-81-HERON for a free inspection. If you have any questions or would like Heron to write on a specific topic please email your question or topic to: cvandergriff@heronlawnandpest.com. Hope these tips help!

Question: I just moved into my new home here in Orlando, and I have a lot of small bugs with pinchers coming into my home.  I am not used to this.  Do they bite?  How do you stop them?

Steve Says:

The scary little bugs are called earwigs.  With all the rains we have recently had, many insects, especially earwigs are being driven into your home from areas adjacent to your home being over saturated with water.  They like to hide under anything they can find like door mats, shoes, mulch, newspapers etc.  Although their bite has never been proved serious, it is entirely uncomfortable.

You need an exterior application of insecticides and baits to keep the population down and stop them from coming inside your home.  The ones that are inside need to be treated.  The only good thing I can say about these bugs are they are seasonal.  Once the heavy rains slow down, so will the pressure to push them inside your home.  Either way, you need to have your home treated by a pest control specialist.

QUESTION: I have recently bought a new home in Orlando and the back porch screen enclosure has a spider in every corner.  I believe they are black widows becuase they have the distinctive orange hour glass shape on the belly, but they are not black but brownish.  They also have eggs that have spikes on them.   I am concerned for my children if they are black widows.  Any suggestions?

ANSWER: These are Brown Widow spiders.  The spikes on the eggs is the indicator they are Brown Widows.  They are one of five types of widow spiders in America.  The other widow spider eggs will have a somewhat smooth, coarsely woven white to tan surface and is teardrop to spherical in shape.  The egg sac of the brown widow is beige to off-white in color and spherical in shape, but its outer surface has numerous distinctive pointed or spine-like projections like the ones you are seeing.  The venom of the brown widow has been reported as being the most lethal of the five species but on average they contain the least amount of venom per spider. Reactions to humans tend to be localized to the bite site, with systemic reactions restricted primarily to the young. 

In order to control spiders, you must treat them directly with a contact insecticide.  I would leave this to a professional.  If you do not kill the spider because of an incorrect treatment, it could send them foraging in the wrong direction…..inside your home.  An initial application will kill all your spiders and then a good preventative quarterly application will keep them away.  Until the bug man gets there, keep the kids away!!!!

Question: I have small bugs flying out of a window in my house. Are these termites?

Steve Says:

They could be!  One way to tell is by counting how many body segments the insect has.  If it has three body segments, it is probably an ant. If it has two body segments, it is likely termites eating at your home!  Either way, I recommend you have a professional come perform an inspection!

Question: I currently have a local Orlando pest control company taking care of my lawn care, shrub care and inside pest control. What is the difference between the rest of the pest control companies I see around Orlando?

Steve Says:

Most of the local pest control companies are the same in Orlando. When you get to the top five Orlando pest control companies you will start to see major differences from all the rest. First, go to the Better Business Bureau website and look at the top five Orlando pest control companies. Look at their grading score which will let you know how many complaints have gone unresolved. At Heron, we hold an “A” rating. Compared to some other pest control companies in Orlando, that says a great deal about us.

Angie’s List is another area for you to research. Angie’s List tracks thousands and thousands of contractors, coast to coast. Less than 4% of them have consumer reviews good enough to win them the Angie’s List “Excellence in Service” award. We won it for the Orlando market last year. No other pest control company in Orlando did.

Most pest control companies will not have a Service Consultant to their home within an hour or two for estimates like we do here at Heron. Heron is one of the only Orlando pest control companies that offers free termite monitoring with our pest control service. No other pest control company that I am aware of offers {crabgrass control in St. Augustine turf} like Heron does.

Most Orlando pest control companies do not have uniformed employees enduring background checks, bi-annual license checks to maintain a “safe driver” status and random workplace drug-screens. Most companies do not have fleet GPS systems in each vehicle to ensure the correct amount of time is spent on each property, delivering superior service.

Finding the differences in all the Orlando pest control companies can only be done by research. I encourage you to do just that. At Heron Lawn and Pest control, we can confidently say we are the best pest control company in Orlando.

Question: My neighbors refer to my St. Augustine lawn as “The Garden of Weeden” What can I do to get the weeds out of my lawn and keep them out?

Steve Says:

First you need to start with good lawn care cultural practices.  Water only when your grass needs it. Wait for the leaf blades to fold in half length wise and you see a blue gray haze to it. This is called the first sign of wilt. Then water 1 inch per watering.  Use any cylindrical cup or can to measure this.  This will moisten the whole length of your root system.  Excessive moisture will cause aquatic weeds to germinate, like dollar weeds and sedge.  Too little water will cause drought and dry weeds to germinate like Florida Pusley and Spurge.

Then you will need a good fertilization and pest prevention program to keep the grass thick and the bugs out so no dead areas appear.  When lawn care is not optimal, thin or dead areas appear and weeds will follow soon.  Once weeds are there, a Heron lawn care specialist can treat them with a post emergent weed control. This practice will kill existing weeds. A pre emergent applied correctly by a Heron lawn care specialist in the Fall and Winter will prevent your summer annual weeds from germinating from the start.

Last, keep your grass cut.  It sounds simple, but many people wait too long to cut their grass.  Once a week should take care of keeping the grass healthy. Letting it grow too long then cutting causes unwanted stress on the grass and slows growth allowing weeds to grow.

St. Augustine is an excellent grass to have in Central Florida for a thick, green lawn with minimal weeds, but taking care of it is not for the novice. For the best lawn care available in the Orlando area, request a free quote today.