While we start preparing our yards for spring and getting our gardens and flower beds ready for planting, pests are also planning a silent invasion. Here at Custom Lawn Care we have over 30 years of experience dealing lawn diseases and pest infestations . We know how much damage pests can cost homeowners if action isn’t taken in time. That’s why we want to save you time and money by providing you a list of the most common pests that damage Michigan lawns.
The Grub/June Bug
You’ve probably seen those big scary brown beetles crawling on your windows and patio doors on summer evenings. These are June bugs and they are the adult stage of the little white grubs you find in your yard. During the spring and early summer, grubs feed on the roots of your grass causing large swaths of grass to turn brown and die. Left unchecked, these patches can become permanent patches of dirt for years to come. Infestations usually don’t abate at the end of the year, in fact, they usually get worse as each generation of June bug lays more eggs in your lawn. A good way to test if you have a grub problem is to pull up a 1×1 patch of grass. Having
a few grubs
is normal and easily treated. However, if there are more than a dozen worms in one square foot then you have a grub problem.
Moles
Moles and grubs go hand in hand. If you have a grub problem then hungry moles can’t be too far behind. Moles aren’t shy about inviting themselves over. As they feed, they tunnel under the surface of the soil, disturbing the roots of your grass. When they breach they pile large mounds of dirt onto the top of your lawn which can kill your grass and be a hazard to your lawn mower. Sure, you can set mole traps but the only sure-fire way to be rid of moles is to eliminate their food source. Moles aren’t the only animals that feed on grubs. Racoons, skunks, and birds can also tear up your yard looking for these tasty worms.
Chinch Bugs
Do you have dead patches of grass that won’t come back after you water and water? This could be an indication of chinch bug damage. Chinch bugs are tiny insects that feed on the blades of your grass. After they are done sucking the nutrients out of one blade they move on to the next. In their path they leave dead and dying blades of grass that appear as circles in your yard. As they feed the circles get bigger and bigger, causing even more damage.
Sod Webworms
Sod webworms are the larvae stage of grey lawn moths. They cause damage to lawns by feeding on and cutting down blades of grass and hiding them in their web-like burrows. Grass damaged by webworms may look like grub damage. However, grubs attack the grass roots and damaged turf can easily be pulled up while webworms attack the tops of grass.
Hire The Professionals At Custom
Battling weeds isn't the only thing affecting the health of your lawn. That’s where the professionals at Custom Lawn Care come in. Our Grub Control Program is applied once per season and is GUARANTEED for ONE FULL YEAR to prevent a new hatch of Grubs.
Call (800) 570-3313 today and ask about our or leave a message on our site. Follow our blog for more helpful lawn care tips.
