It’s important to learn about all the different bugs that can invade and damage your lawn. It’s equally important to arm yourself with a plan for treating it and ensuring your grass stays healthy and gorgeous all year long. When it’s thick, beautiful, healthy, and green, your lawn can be an inviting part of your landscape, and the first impression people get when visiting or driving by. However, if your lawn is brown and struggling to survive because of pest invasion, it doesn’t take long for it to lose the appeal it once had. Do you have brown patches? Have you noticed an abundance of bugs living on your lawn? In this article we will give you tips on how to win the war against the insects and keep your lawn healthy and looking great.
The First Thing To Determine
Now that you have seen the visible signs of holes in the leaves or stems of plants, wilted grass, chewed leaves or brown spots, you know you are dealing with insect infestation. You usually will even be able to see the insects if you check the grass near the soil. You will now need a solution.
You Need To Identify The Bug Species
The next step is to find out which bugs are causing the damage. There are many different types of lawn bugs.
- Grubs (Beetle Larvae)
- Chinch Bugs
- Sod Webworms
- Armyworms
- Cutworms
Each type of insect has its own unique appearance and life cycle, so it is important to be able to identify which one you are dealing with.
Not All Bugs Are Bad! Your Lawn And Garden Actually Contain Helpful Bugs!
While it may seem like every insect out there is trying to eat your plants and ruin your lawn, not all the insects you see in your garden are pests. In fact, fewer than 1% of all insects are considered pests, meaning the vast majority are beneficial or, at the very least, benign. Most people are aware of the benefits of bees and other pollinators, a lot of other types of insects are beneficial in our gardens by helping to control pest insect populations in your landscape, The following are actually beneficial for your lawn. Earthworms aerate the soil. Lady bugs eat aphids. And lacewings eat aphids and other small insects. Additionally, the flying bugs in your lawn may be helping, not hurting your grass. Killing off the beneficial insects can actually cause lawn problems. Some insects are gardeners that till the earth, which helps the root structure of your grass to thrive. Others eat the harmful larvae and bugs that chew up roots and choke leaves. Consider including some plants in your landscaping that invite the good bugs to come and help control the bad ones. Becoming familiar with the insects that often visit your garden is the best defense when combating harmful bugs. Depending on what type of lawn bugs you have, be careful to choose an insecticide that will eliminate only the harmful pests without killing off the beneficial ones.
Prevent Future Bug Infestation
After you have gotten rid of existing lawn pests, take steps to prevent them from coming back. If a pesticide or chemical bug killer is applied to eliminate the pests, do not reseed immediately afterward. Keep pesticide applications and reseeding separated by a few months, too. If the grass is seeded in the fall, wait until the following spring to treat the lawn with bug killer. Depending on the type of insect, you may need to change your watering habits or mow your lawn more frequently. Have your lawn sprayed on a regular basis to keep the pest from coming back.
Why Is Lawn Maintenance Important?
Proper lawn care ensures that your lawn can withstand threats from lawn-damaging weeds and insects. It also ascertains that your flowers, grass, and shrubs can fight-off diseases. Furthermore, lawn care ensures your turf can survive unpredictable weather and guarantees your lawn is ever nutrient rich. If you are having trouble dealing with an infestation on your own, contact a local lawn service professional to help you. While it is possible to deal with an infestation on your own, sometimes it pays to hire a knowledgeable professional to keep your yard pest-free all season long.
Contact us (859-314-LAWN) for more information or a free instant quote!
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About Green & Grow
About Green & GrowGreen & Grow is a full-service lawn care company specializing in fertilization & weed control, aeration & seeding, insect control, and more!