The Best Way to Control Lawn Pests
Naturally, a lawn has all kinds of insects. Some of them are harmless and beneficial, but others are problematic. If not controlled, pests can damage or kill the grass in your yard. Remember, your lawn should be a beautiful and healthy place to enjoy time with family and friends, not a home for pests.
When you see visible holes in the soil or something eating your lawn grass, it can mean you have pest infestation. Having lawn pest control is the best way to deal with the pests and restore the healthy state of your lawn. Let us look at some pests that can attack your lawn and how you can prevent them from advancing.
Common Lawn Insects
First, you must correctly identify the insects attacking your lawn before you can start to take action. You can also find out about their life cycles and symptoms so that you get rid of them properly at optimal times. The following are pests that will attack your lawn if you give them a chance to:
- Armyworms: They are common insects, and they feed on grass blades during the warm season. You can tell an armyworm infestation when you notice brown patches on your lawn, which can easily ruin your landscape’s aesthetics.
- Grasshopper: Grasshoppers seem harmless, but they can do serious damage to plants and grass. A swarm of grasshoppers can wipe out your green area in a few days if left uncontrolled.
- Fire ants: These small insects can create mounds and tunnels all over the lawn. They can also pose a threat to your family or pets as they are capable of attacking by stinging repeatedly.
- Chiggers: They are tiny insects that later metamorphose into mites. Chiggers love tall grass, and their bite can cause severe itching.
- Bagworms: Bagworms are plant-feeding larvae that are destructive to any green vegetation. If not exterminated or controlled, they can kill a tree or a shrub.
Protecting your lawn from pests
Recognizing a lawn pest outbreak is not easy, and it may go unnoticed for a while. When you start seeing decaying spots in your yard, this is a red flag that you’re dealing with a pest infestation. It would be best to partner with a professional to ensure total extermination for a healthy lawn. That being said, these are a few tips you can use to maintain a pest-free and a healthy lawn on your own:
Mow regularly
Create time and mow at least once a week but do not overdo it to the point that it hinders grass growth. Your mowing frequency depends on your lawn’s height. Typically, taller grass is deep-rooted and the goal is to cut about 1/3 of the leaf blade every time you mow. Thus, the lower you set your mowing blade, the higher the mowing frequency.
Irrigate properly
Overwatering or under-watering your lawn can create the perfect conditions for different insects to thrive. It’s recommended to water your lawn about 1.0 to 1.5 inches of water weekly.
Use an appropriate fertilizer
While you may assume that more is better, applying more pounds of synthetic fertilizer to your lawn does more harm than good. Surface run-off from rainwater or overwatering washes away the fertilizer, thus wasting your money and contaminating the soil; should you choose to use lawn fertilizer, find a product containing potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Apply it according to the manufacturer’s directions to promote a vibrant green growth across your lawn.
Partner With Abracadabra Lawn Pest and Weed Control and Get Quality Pest Control Services
Lawn pests are annoying and can destroy your barbecue session with family and friends. To prevent this, contact Abracadabra Lawn Pest and Weed Control. We’ve been in the lawn care industry for over 14 years. Therefore, you can rest assured that we’ll provide quality free lawn inspection and pest extermination solutions to leave your lawn looking healthy and aesthetic.