There are hundreds of thousands of various insect species that can be found around the world and the majority of them don't feast on turf grass. But when you suddenly face a dilemma of insect attacks on your green and luscious lawn, the succeeding section can aid you in eradicating these unwanted guests.
If you are thinking of completely exterminating all of the insects found in your lawn try to remember that an acre usually has 40 million insects and the majority of them feed on other harmful insects and supply food for birds and other animals. The most important thing to consider then is to know the insects that can damage your lawn and learning how to control them.
In the United States, the three most widespread insects that damage turfs are sod webworms, chinch bugs and grubs. These insects attack various areas of the lawn and are the result of inconsistency in lawn maintenance.
Sod webworms can be often seen flying in the evening and they live in tunnels which are lined in silk. Further, they attack cool-season grass by chewing off the stems and leaves. In healthy grass, damage can be hardly detected as opposed to dormant grass or terribly damaged sections where grasses are closely cropped. To avoid damage caused by sod webworm, harmless insects that prey on them are the best defense. Moreover, watering, mowing and fertilization can hide the symptoms and fix the damage left by the attack.
Another common turf-damaging insect is the chinch bug that sucks fluid from the stems and leaves of grass. Since these insects are very small, the best way to detect them is to float them out of the lawn. To start floating, first prepare a regular size coffee can and remove both ends. After, hammer one end into the ground for about two inches and then put water in the can. Once you see more than five chinch bugs then it is essential that you control them by watering the lawn by using a liquid or granular insecticide after 25 minutes. Fertilizer will help in your lawn recovery.
Since grubs are used as food by moles, you may see diggings in your lawn. Usually attacks from grubs appear in the form of wilted grass that has brown and small dead areas that spread rapidly. Also, the turf will seem spongy underneath because it isn't anchored to the ground. You will know that there is a need for control if there are about 15 or more grubs present in a square foot. Proper irrigation or watering is the best way to eradicate grubs since it encourages rooting.
This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.
Article Copyright By Author. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
| 