Recent Influx of Mosquitoes in Key Largo

Mosquitoes and the wet season coincide with one another so it is expected that from May to the end of October, the mosquito population will be high. Yet, in my twelve years of living in the Florida Keys, I have never been as annoyed by mosquitos as I have been this past week. Anywhere and at any time of the day, mosquitos have been swarming since Monday June 20th.

There are many reasons for this including the recent drought conditions that have concentrated the mosquitos in desolate, protected areas that cannot be treated. Combine that with a small amount of much needed rain that fell on Sunday night in Key Largo and…….voila - the mosquitos began migrating (they can travel up to 30 miles) from these protected areas. Consequently, Monday was complete mayhem as the mosquitos made spending time outside absolutely miserable. “There has never been a year on record that has brewed such conditions” says a biologist who works for the Florida Keys Mosquito control district.

There are 45 different species of mosquitos in the Florida Keys. Mosquitos kill more men and women in the United States than any other creature with over one million deaths a year. They transmit diseases such as Encephalitis, West Nile Virus and Dengue making the job of the control district extremely important. Although scary, it is not something to worry about; it is something to be cognizant of. Prevention is the best medicine! Therefore, the district recommends the following:

1. Drill holes in the bottom, not the sides, of any garbage or recycling containers stored outdoors to reduce water accumulation in the bottom for mosquitoes to breed.
2. Keep gutters clean and unclogged. Be sure your downspouts drain properly, without leaving puddles in the drainage area. You may need to reroute your downspouts or add extensions to carry water away. 
3. Keep swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated, even when not in use. Homeowners who go on vacation without chlorinating their pools may return to a veritable mosquito hatchery.
4. Walk your property after a rain, and look for areas in the landscape that are not draining well. If you find puddles that remain for four or more days, regrade the area.
5. Ornamental ponds should be aerated to keep water moving and discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs. Alternately, stock the pond with mosquito-eating fish.
6. Dump anything that holds water twice per week if it has rained. Birdbaths, non-chlorinated wading pools, footbaths, garbage can lids, and pottery will all attract breeding mosquitoes. Remember to empty the saucers under your flower pots, and don't leave water in pet bowls for more than two days.
7. Keep your property clean of items that can hold water, including discarded aluminum cans and tires.
8. Make your yard less hospitable to mosquitoes by mowing your lawn regularly, and keep weeds away from your home's foundation.

Lastly, just so you know, the Mosquito Control Board has the right to go onto your property if they suspect it has mosquitoes that are carrying diseases.

Reef Tropical can help you keep the mosquitos away from your property, please let us know if you would like one of our experts to come out to your property and do mosquito prevention.

Still Dry in Key Largo - Save your Money, Not your Grass

The average arrival of the rainy season is May 20th and although we got some rain over the weekend, lawns are burning up in Key Largo. Last week I woke up to the faint smell of smoke in Coconut Grove as fires in the everglades from dry conditions, combined with a west wind, bring the reality of Mother Nature. Miami has been getting some rain but Ocean Reef Club is only getting drops. During this time of year, residents and pedestrians can see every area in the lawn with weak irrigation coverage - brown and dying grass. Our hope for an early arrival of heavy rain is fading as we watch the forecast.

As homeowners, it is important to watch the water usage through your irrigation system. Sometimes, five hundred square feet of new sod is cheaper than the water bill if you run enough to compensate for the tail end of the dry season. Subsequently, it is important to learn from the conditions and repair the irrigation if necessary. Also, watch for the rains of summer to arrive and trigger your rain sensor on your irrigation system to reduce your water usage and keep your grass alive. Please call us if you need any advice in any of these areas no matter where you live.

Dry Weather - What to do with landscaping

Finally, we got some rain today in South Florida! We measured over an inch here at Reef Tropical's office in Key Largo. Yeah! We hope to get some more rain soon but that will be unlikely until the rainy season arrives. The average arrival date for the rainy season is May 20th. Unfortunately that means we are in "Server Drought Conditions" here in Monroe County. Other parts of South Florida are in "Extreme Drought Conditions" according to the nation Weather Service. We have not had sufficient rain in many days and are far short of average for consecutive months now. Click here for more info. 

We hit 89 degrees this past week and our impatiens (flowers) and grass are showing the signs of fading in full sun areas and areas of weak irrigation coverage. The Impatiens hate anything near 85 degrees and full sun. We will be recommending removal soon, rather than heavy watering.

Monroe County and surrounding areas are under two day watering restrictions, depending on your (odd or even) address. Ask us for free help to conform your irrigation settings and let the impatiens go away when the fade in the heat of the approaching summer weather.