Last year, 2010, there was a killer in a lot of yards in Lincoln NE: Fungus. The climate and environmental conditions were ideal and a lot of people saw the beautiful green of their lawn disappear and turn into an ugly brown. However, there is a killer in many yards nearly every year that is just as damaging and nearly as invisible as last year's fungus because the danger lies just under the turf: Grubs.
If you see moths flying in your yard in early summer, chances are you are going to have grubs. The moths, usually seen near dusk, are busy laying eggs that will emerge in one to two weeks. Your yard is about to become a hatchery for hungry grubs!
Grubs, which appear to be similar to various forms of caterpillars, are actually the larval stage of many different kinds of beetles. Living under the turf, grubs feed on the roots of your grass, quickly killing the blades above ground. If they are not eliminated, grubs can quickly ruin a yard during the summer months. Grub damage will take the appearance of patchy areas of brown, dead grass. Sod damaged by grubs can be pulled up easily like lifting a wig off of a mannequin's head!
If the grubs in your yard are not killed off, when it gets colder they burrow deeper into the ground and in early summer they will be back!
The best time to get rid of grubs is in early summer, just after they hatch. They are near the surface of the ground, are vulnerable to insecticide and won't have started destroying your yard. Do not wait until late summer or early fall to kill off these pests. By then, the damage will have been done. The grass will not come back on its own for the season and will have to be replaced and the insects are harder to kill off.
A variety of fertilizer products contain insecticide that kills grubs. These products have to be watered into the ground to be effective. Other chemical treatments are also available, but also need to be watered in to get to the grubs where they are harvesting your grass. Many such chemicals can be harmful to pets and humans, especially children. If doing this yourself, make sure that you follow every step to the letter. When not applied properly, the chemicals will do more harm than good and damage your landscaping (and lawn) in the process. This is why it is usually best to hire a trained, experienced, licensed professional to apply insecticides to your lawn.
Author Resource:-
John Kohler is the owner and founder of Kohler Care, a full service lawn care company that has been around for almost 10 years. One of the foremost experts in the Midwest, John has clients throughout Lincoln NE and Southeast Nebraska as well. For more Tips and Information, go to Kohler Care today.
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