Florida Lawn Care Pros Fielding More Calls
More Florida lawn care professionals are receiving calls from residential and commercial customers concerned over the growing patches of brown surrounding their properties.
Seasoned pros can usually identify the culprit over the phone, because this virus is not new to Florida. The Sugarcane Mosaic Virus (SCMV) was first identified about a decade ago when it was began impacting the state’s lucrative sugarcane crops.
Now SCMV is increasingly being seen in the yards and lawns of homes and businesses in all regions of Florida with a recent resurgence in the Tampa Bay metro area, according to a report this morning from WFTS Tampa Bay.
Previous reports in 2023 from Palm Beach and Jacksonville, respectively, emphasize the fact that SCMV feels equally at home feasting on beautiful and bountiful turfgrass in South and North Florida.
So What Exactly is Sugarcane Mosaic Virus?
Great question…and fortunately, we can get the answers from the experts at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food & Agricultural Science (IFAS).
Sugarcane mosaic virus causes mosaic disease in St. Augustine grass. As a viral infection, mosaic disease cannot be controlled by fungicides or other pesticides. In some cases infection leads to severe damage. In the worst cases, the disease may kill the entire lawn as the turfgrass declines. This is referred to as lethal viral necrosis (LVN).
As far as symptoms, IFAS has this to say: The most common symptom of mosaic disease caused by SCMV is a mosaic pattern of leaf damage. Look for blotchy lines of yellow and light green on green blades of grass. These broken streaks run along the veins. By the fall some lawns show LVN and begin to brown and die completely. In these cases lawns showed severe die-back by spring.
Preventive Measures to Stop the Spread
While there is no cure, the researchers at IFAS encourage Florida lawn care pros and homeowners alike to take preventive measures in the form of enhanced equipment cleaning to stop the spread of SCMV.
Sugarcane mosiac virus is spread when machinery brings clippings and sap from an infected lawn to an uninfected lawn. This happens when lawn care equipment is not disinfected between landscapes.
To avoid spreading the virus, clean all obvious clippings and sap off of all equipment. Pay special attention to mowers, trimmers, and shoes.
Next, sterilize the equipment by spraying with a sanitizing solution. Dilute bleach, alcohol, quaternary ammonia, are the most common choices.
Commercial mower manufacturer Swisher has a helpful article and infographic on their site regarding How to Care for Commercial Mowing Equipment.
Contact CII Today
If you own an established lawn care, landscaping or tree service business in Florida or Georgia and would like to get a better understanding of the current market value of your company and important steps you can take today to maximize that value, get in touch with a CII business advisor today.