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June 2014 Newsletter
Hurricane Guide & Mosquitoes
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Summer is almost officially here and the possibility afternoon thunderstorms are here for the next few months.
Even though we've noticed that some yards are beginning to look a little dry. Please pay close attention to your St Augustine grass blades - if the blades of grass are closed - your grass needs to be watered. You will need to increase the time on your irrigation box accordingly. Proper irrigation is key to a beautiful yard. For more information, read our article about Healthy Green Lawn Care in our April's newsletter edition. Click here
In our last issue we discussed keeping you safe so we decided to stay with that theme since June 1st officially begins 2014 Hurricane Season and the hot humid days brings the Mosquitoes. Read the articles below on how to keep you and your family safe against bugs.
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June 1st through November 30th - Hurricane Season -The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th, and the Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15th to November 30th.
See Hurricane Resource Information Below
Friday, June 6th - Last Day of Public School.
Sunday, June 15th - Father's Day - We would like to extend a "Happy Father's Day" to all the fathers who stand strong and guide our children through life. Without the father figures in our life, we would not be the people we are.
Saturday, June 21, 2014 - The Summer Solstice is considered to be the first day of the Summer Season, and is also the longest day of the year.
Please feel free to call us at (813) 435-3112 if you have any questions, would like to add color to your landscape or schedule a Summer Irrigation Tune-up.
Please let us know if there is a special topic you would like to see - email: Dennis@AllisonLawn.com
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2014 Hurricane Guide
Keeping you safe. 
Each year, an average of eleven tropical storms develops over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Many of these remain over the ocean and never impact the U.S. coastline. Six of these storms become hurricanes each year. In an average 3-year period, roughly five hurricanes strike the US coastline, killing approximately 50 to 100 people anywhere from Texas to Maine. Of these, two are typically "major" or "intense" hurricanes (a category 3 or higher storm)
NOAA predicts 2014 may be the year of El Niņo which historically means that we will have a less active season but they can be more powerful. Past El Niņo seasons were in 2006, 1997 and in 1992, the year of Hurricane Andrew. (El Niņo is when the Pacific oceans are warmer and normally lasts for 7-12 months which in turns effects our weather)
If a Hurricane approaches, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is "Should I Evacuate?"
If you are asked to evacuate, you should do so without delay. But unless you live in a coastal or low-lying area, an area that floods frequently, or in manufactured housing, it is unlikely that emergency managers will ask you to evacuate. That means that it is important for you and your family to HAVE A PLAN that makes you as safe as possible in your home. It also includes having the supplies on hand to weather the storm.
The suggestions provided here are only guides. You should use common sense in your disaster prevention.
(Click on underlined points for more information)
- DEVELOP A FAMILY PLAN - Your family's plan should be based on your vulnerability to the Hurricane Hazards. You should keep a written plan and share your plan with other friends or family. (Don't forget to plan for your pets)
- FEMA - Family Emergency Plan (PDF)
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Household Inventory (PDF): Creating your household inventory before storm season is a good way to know if you need to evaluate your insurance coverage. Plus, should you need to make a claim after a storm, your household inventory can reduce the time it takes to get your claim paid. It's a smart idea to use your point-and-shoot camera or video camera and take photos of your possessions and store them in a safe place (i.e. fireproof, waterproof safe, etc.).
- CREATE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT (PDF) - There are certain items you need to have regardless of where you ride out a hurricane. The disaster supply kit is a useful tool when you evacuate as well as making you as safe as possible in your home. (AAA of Florida)
- KNOW YOUR EVACUATION ROUTES (PDF) - Hillsborough county-wide evacuation route and zone maps are based upon the most up-to-date regional evacuation studies and are intended for general reference
* Information source: NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and AAA Auto Club of Florida
AAA Insurance Resource Guide:
Start of the Season: https://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/Insurance/storm-start.aspx
Approaching Storm: https://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/Insurance/storm-approaching.aspx
During the Storm: https://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/Insurance/storm-during.aspx
After the Storm: https://autoclubsouth.aaa.com/Insurance/storm-after.aspx
Other resources:
Allison Lawn's Resource Page: www.AllisonLawn.com/resources
NOAA's Preparedness Guide: www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php
2014 Hurricane Names: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, Wilfred
You can also track hurricanes on a map - Click here (PDF) for a printable map from AAA Auto Club.
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Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
May 31 - June 8, 2014  During the holiday, qualifying items related to hurricane preparedness are exempt from sales tax. The holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2014, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2014. To see the list of qualifying items, click here |
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Mosquitoes and other outdoor bugs
The Bug War is on!
'Tis the season for mosquitoes, fleas and other itch-inducing insects to come out in full force, leaving your skin covered in bites and your fingers frantically scratching away, desperate for a little relief.
The ongoing war between man and bug prompts in many people a continual search for an inexpensive and effective weapon against mosquitoes, preferably something "natural" (or at least something that isn't specifically a pesticide and therefore poses less danger of harming or killing humans and their pets). The good news in the mosquito wars is that we only need to worry about the females of the species, because male mosquitoes don't bite. Male and female mosquitoes both feed on nectar for sustenance; the female, however, requires blood to lay her eggs. It doesn't matter how many male mosquitoes she's been with; without the blood she draws from her victims she will not gain entry into the ranks of mosquito motherhood, so instinct drives her to take a piece out of someone.
Female Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide (the more carbon dioxide a person emits, the more likely that person is to be singled out by a motherhood-driven mosquito) as well as moisture, warmth, and body odor. Mosquito repellents such as DEET work not by "repelling" mosquitoes in a literal sense, but by blocking the receptors on their antennae that allow them to home in on human beings.
In general, a product that contains DEET will typically repel mosquitoes more effectively and for much longer than solutions concocted from commercial household products intended for completely different purposes.
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Plants that repel bugs
Bugs - bring it on! 
Various herbs have been used for centuries to help keep mosquitoes from landing on skin and biting. However, over the last century with the emergence of new products containing synthetic chemicals such as DEET, many common herbs with insect repelling qualities are no longer being used. However, plants can be used to repel many biting insects.
While one plant won't repel an entire backyard, here's 5 top plants that you may want to consider for specific areas like the porch, front door, etc.
1. Citronella Sort of "the original" for bug repelling, with a powerful lemony scent. It's used in many commercial bug repellents and candles. I'm a little hesitant to plant it though, as I understand it can be a skin irritant. It's also not quite as portable as lemon balm or the others listed below. It's a grass-like plant that grows up to 6 feet tall! If you're looking for citronella, make sure you get the varieties Cybopogon nardus or Citronella winterianus, as some other citronella varieties won't have the same effect-some aren't even true citronellas, they're just citronella-scented. 2. Catnip Studies suggest that catnip may be even more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET (the ingredient used in most commercial bug repellents, which is highly toxic). It also repels cockroaches, an attribute that many of us living in urban areas can certainly appreciate. It can be used similarly to lemon balm; crushed and rubbed onto the skin. A word of caution to cat owners: watch where you plant your catnip! Your cat may want to roll around on it and play with it. Plant catnip apart from the rest of your garden so your cat doesn't accidentally damage any other plants nearby. 3. Marigolds In addition to mosquitoes, marigolds repel garden pests, too! We have lots of marigolds growing in the Gerson Institute's garden to keep the bugs away from our veggies. The flowers are edible as well, and add color and flavor to salads or can be a gorgeous garnish when you want to dress up a dish. 4. Lavender Grow it around the house and garden to keep bugs away. It'll grow inside too, if you keep it next to a sunny window. Has a lovely scent, pretty purple flowers and calming properties as well, so it's a charming addition to your garden or home for several reasons! 5. Peppermint Biting bugs don't like the scent of peppermint, so you can crush up the leaves and rub it on your skin to ward them off. As an added bonus, peppermint also can also do double-duty as itch relief if you do get bitten! To see a complete list of plants and which bugs they repel, Click here (Source: Wikipedia) |
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We hope you enjoyed our newsletter and feel free to email us ideas on topics you would like us to cover. Please feel free to forward this email with the link below.
Sincerely,
-Dennis Topo and team
Allison Lawn & Landscape Service, Inc.
Office: (813) 435-3112
Website: www.AllisonLawn.com
 Dennis Topo Jeff Allison
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