Lawn Insect Control Tips To Protect Your Grass This Summer

Lawn Care Tips Ariel

Turf grasses in Georgia lawns usually tolerate the changing weather conditions in the Deep South very well. However, as the hot summer months draw near, changes in climate conditions in your yard can make the grass susceptible to disease and unwanted pests.

With proper lawn insect control and proactive turf care, you can protect the grass from summer pests that come with the changing seasons. In this guide, you’ll learn about effective and safe insect control best practices to keep your turf grass beautifully green and pest-free despite the grueling summer heat.

Understanding Your Summer Lawn Invaders

Proper lawn insect control in Georgia begins with knowing the insects that invade your turf. The extreme temperature in summer can cause drought in some areas or at least over- or underwatering. Dry-patched earth on your lawn can cause nutrient deficiencies, making your turf weak and vulnerable, which creates the ideal conditions for pests to thrive in your area.

Here are some of the most common pests that can get attracted to your lawn during one of the most challenging times of the year:

Chinch Bugs

If you grow St. Augustine grass in your yard, you can expect chinch bugs to come looking for them in the high heat. These critters suck the moisture out of the grass blades, causing unsightly yellow patches on your turf.

Armyworms

These aren’t actually worms; They’re caterpillars that can grow up to 1.5 inches long. They often travel in large groups and can wipe out entire sections of your lawn overnight.

White Grubs

These pests are scarab beetle larvae hiding underneath the topsoil. They can grow up to two inches long and often munch on the roots of your lawn grass. You can tell if you have a grub infestation if you find thin patches of turf that can be peeled up easily as if they were carpet.

Sod Webworms

These caterpillars can eventually grow into small, tan moths with wingspans of half an inch. In their caterpillar form, they love to chew on grass blades and leave behind straw-colored patches of turf with thinning grass blades. With a little inspection, you can spot silk-like tunnels near the soil surface, a sign of their presence.

Mole Crickets

These are cricket-like insects that can grow up to 1.5 inches long. You can easily notice their large frontal legs that they use for digging, ergo their name. As they create their tunnels underneath, the grass roots get severed, causing entire patches of turf to wilt and die. If you walk around your yard and it feels spongy underfoot and see small brown soil mounds, these can be a sign of a mole cricket infestation.

Fire Ants

This aggressive ant species tends to protect its territory en masse. Its populations tend to increase when the temperature hits 70°F to 90°F. Getting rid of a fire ant infestation can be challenging and should be left to professionals.

These are only some summer pests that require proven lawn insect control. Some homeowners in Georgia may also have to deal with ticks and other nuisances. With proper lawn care, recognizing the early signs mentioned earlier can help prevent a full-blown infestation.

Preventive Lawn Insect Control Measures

After verifying the presence of pests in your yard, you must take immediate action before the problem worsens. This will also help keep your lawn healthy, making it less appealing to these critters.

Here are some pest-prevention tips to help you this summer:

Proper Mowing: Keeping your grass a bit taller in summer can help conserve moisture in the ground. This helps keep the roots strong, giving them a better chance of overcoming an infestation.
Soil Aeration: Aeration resolves compacted soil that often occurs in summer due to reduced moisture. It also makes the ground less insect-friendly while allowing oxygen and nutrients to flow better when you water your lawn.
Thatch and Debris Removal: Pests love to hide under thatch, roots, and dead grass. By clearing out the debris, you’re preventing these critters from settling in, while creating a better environment for your turf grass to grow and thrive.
Water Your Lawn for the Summer: Lawn care experts recommend watering deeply and less frequently as the days get hotter. To ensure moisture reaches the roots, try to reach around 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week. Water early in the morning and schedule sessions once or twice weekly.
Handpicking and Natural Pesticides: You can handpick critters while wearing gloves and then drop them in a bucket of soapy water. Some homeowners also use natural pesticides, like neem oil. These options can be effective in the early stages of an infestation.

Get Expert Help This Summer

Summer infestations can grow quickly despite our best efforts, requiring a more targeted approach. If the preventive practices mentioned above no longer work, it’s time to call in the experts.

Magnolia Lawns specialists use comprehensive solutions and perimeter protection to repel and prevent pests from returning. They also apply targeted solutions and insecticides to the turf and landscaping to deal with specific pests.

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