Raising the Bar for Lawn Pest and Disease Control

Warm-season lawns in Central Arkansas deal with a lot more than heat. By the middle of the growing season, turf can be under pressure from armyworms, chinch bugs, billbugs, spittlebugs, mealybugs, grubs, leaf spot, rust, dollar spot, patch disease, and other stress-related disease issues.

The hard part is that many of these problems can look similar in the early stages.

A lawn may start with light yellowing. Then thinning. Then irregular discoloration. Then a weak-looking patch that seems to expand faster than expected. Sometimes the cause is a disease. Sometimes it is insects. Sometimes it is both. And by the time the damage is obvious, the lawn may already be under significant stress.

That is why Natural State Horticare is adding an advanced backpack spot-treatment mix to our field process.

• A Faster Response

  Pest and disease issues can spread quickly, so our technicians undergo rigorous training and are authorized to apply our Specialty Pest & Disease Mix when they identify a current or suspected threat during a scheduled visit.

  • We implemented this policy to provide the highest level of care. By allowing our technicians the freedom to diagnose and treat on-site, we address pests and disease issues immediately, reducing costs and minimizing damage.

    • These are targeted spot-treatment applications that pair best with our preventative programs.

  Instead of waiting for a separate visit, delaying action, or relying on a narrow product that only addresses one possible issue, our technicians will now carry a professional-grade spot-treatment mix designed to cover ALMOST ALL pest and disease problems we see in Central Arkansas turf.

  This is not a basic insecticide or a simple fungicide application. It is a premium combination of products selected for broad control, residual protection, and fast intervention.

• Paired with Prevention

  • ALL spot-treatments are FREE for clients enrolled in BOTH Preventative Programs.

  • Turf Pest Prevention: For clients on this program, there is NO CHARGE when the mix is used to treat present or suspected TURF PESTS.

    • If the mix is used to treat present or suspected LAWN DISEASE, spot-treatment charges will apply.

  • Fungal Agronomics: For clients on this program, there is NO CHARGE when the mix is used to treat a present or suspected LAWN DISEASE.

    • If the mix is used to treat present or suspected TURF PESTS, spot-treatment charges will apply.

    • Spot treatments for pests and diseases start at $13.50 and cover up to 500 square feet. In the rare case that more than 500 square feet requires treatment, additional cost will be prorated.

• Opting Out

  • Clients may opt out of this pre-approval policy at any time.

  • Opting out requires written confirmation via text or email. Opt-outs must be submitted 24 hrs. prior to spot treatment to avoid additional charges.

  • “Call Back Services Visits” start at $65

  • Inevitable delays between identification, diagnosis, and scheduling logistical challenges may result in additional damage before treatments can be applied.

  • This pre-approval policy allows us to respond quickly, minimize damage, and keep treatment costs as low as possible.

• Key Pests & Diseases Controlled

  • Armyworms and other turf-feeding caterpillars

  • Chinch bugs

  • Billbugs

  • Spittlebugs

  • Mealybugs

  • Grubs

  • Dollar spot

  • Rust

  • Patch disease

  • Leaf spot and other common turf diseases

  The goal is not to replace proper diagnosis or good agronomy. The goal is to give our team a responsible and effective tool when the lawn is showing signs of active decline and the issue may be pest-related, disease-related, or a combination of both.

• Its a BIG DEAL

  Most lawn care companies do not send technicians into the field with ANY pest and disease control, let alone this highly advance mix.

  There are a few reasons why.

  1. The products are expensive and the labor required for such tedious diagnostics are even more costly.

  2. It requires training. These products must be measured correctly, applied correctly, and used only where appropriate.

  3. It requires a company philosophy that prioritizes turf health over simply completing the scheduled round and moving on.

  We are making the investment because it gives our clients better protection when problems begin to show up between or during regular service visits.

• Prevention is Still Key

  This new spot-treatment mix is a strong tool, but it is not a substitute for a complete preventative program.

  Once turf is already damaged, the goal changes. We are no longer just preventing a problem. We are trying to stop active feeding, suppress disease, protect the remaining healthy turf, and give the lawn the best chance to recover.

  Preventative programs are still the best way to reduce the likelihood of severe damage in the first place.

  The spot-treatment mix is there for the real world, because even well-managed lawns can develop unexpected issues during periods of heat, humidity, drought stress, excessive rainfall, or heavy pest pressure.

• Our High Standard of Care

  At Natural State Horticare, we are not interested in doing the bare minimum.

  We study turf problems. We evaluate product performance. We adjust our programs when we see a better way to protect our clients’ lawns.

  Adding this advanced spot-treatment mix is another example of that approach.

  • It gives our technicians a better tool in the field.

  • It gives our clients faster support when problems appear.

  • It gives premium preventative clients added protection at no extra cost.

  • And most importantly, it helps us protect the health, color, density, and long-term performance of the lawns we manage.

  • This is the difference between simply applying lawn treatments and actively managing turf health.