Doing your own lawn pest control requires a bit of research and time.
Doing your own lawn care can be both a hobby and a good way to save money. Those who enjoy gardening and being outdoors enjoy a great deal of satisfaction when their lawns look green, thick and healthy. Doing your own lawn care, however, requires a certain amount of knowledge and effort. Lawn pests can create damage that is unsightly and difficult to treat. Your local university extension service can help you identify the pest and advise you on the most effective treatments for your area. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Do it Yourself Lawn Pest Control
1. Examine your turf carefully before mowing. Notice the pattern and extent of damage. If leaves and stems show evidence of chewing, you may have armyworms or cutworms. If leaves are brown or missing altogether, it may be lawn moths or webworms. If there are small, irregular patches of brown grass that appears to be spreading, it may be billbugs. The Southern chinch bug causes yellowish grass that then turns brown during hot weather, according to the University of California at Davis. White grubs can cause extensive browning and damage to the point where the grass can be rolled away from the soil.
2. Do a turf test. Drenching and digging up are two ways used to identify lawn pests. According to the Master Gardeners of Fresno County, you can do a drench test by putting 2 to 4 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid into 1 gallon of water and then sprinkling the mixture over 1 square yard of the affected area. Within minutes, the insects will move to the surface, and then you can see what they look like and how many there are. A dig test requires digging up 1 square foot of the affected area to see if roots are black or if there is evidence of a large number of grubs or larva. If you find 3/8-inch, white, legless grubs, it could be billbugs. Gray, greenish or brown 2-inch grubs are a sign of armyworm infestation.
3. Treat your lawn with the recommended pesticide. Some chemicals are prohibited in many communities. Consult with your local agricultural extension service for the most effective pesticide for your problem. Azadiractin, a botanical pesticide, is often used against cutworms, but the results are not apparent for some time. Cabaryl, chloropyrifos or diazinon is used to combat white grubs, according to North Dakota State University. Nematodes, or microscopic worms, are used as a natural pest management tool against cutworms and root weevils.
4. Maintain your lawn properly to prevent further problems. Good maintenance practices are the best way to prevent pest problems. Keep mower blades sharp and mow at the recommended height for your type of grass. Aerate soil periodically by removing plugs with hollow tines. Irrigate the turf during dry periods. Fertilize the lawn as recommended for your grass type. These measures will help grass plants resist attack by lawn pests.
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