Doing yard work in the heat is a nuisance enough, but especially so when mosquitoes are buzzing around. Many Coastal Bend homeowners say that’s why they’ve called on local landscaping businesses for some assistance.
For James Lawn Service, more mosquitoes means more customers. James McJunkins, the owner of James Lawn Service, says the phones at his business have been ringing non-stop since last week’s heavy rain.
"90 percent of the time it doesn’t stop ringing," McJunkins said. "Every five minutes we get a call," he added.
McJunkins says on a typical summer day, the business gets about 20 phone calls. Since last week’s rain, the business has been averaging 60 calls in a day. McJunkins says the customers who call, say they don’t want to do yard work in mosquito swarms, especially when it’s hot.
Roger Hunter is one local customer who’s called for service. Hunter says he’s been avoiding his back yard all week because of the pesky mosquitoes.
"I haven’t even been able to go out to my garden and take care of it or anything like that," Hunter said. "Because even with spray on, they were crawling in my nose, they were going in my ears," Hunter added.
Hunter says he’d rather the landscapers take care of his lawn, then get bit by any more mosquitoes.
"These guys mowing the grass, I feel for them because I don’t know how they could do that," Hunter said. "No way I could do it. That’s why I pay them to do it," he added.
McJunkins says James Lawn Service has received so many calls, they are behind schedule a full week. However he hopes business will be back on schedule by the end of July.?
