Lawn and Garden Learning Center

[Fertilization] [Weed Control] [Watering]

Controlling Insects

General Information

Damage caused by insects, disease, chemical burn and drought often appear similar. Insects that cause injury to your lawn can often be quite difficult to spot. They may live above the soil level in the plants or thatch layer, or below soil level roots.

Insects are categorized into two basic groups:

Surface Feeders and Underground Feeders

• Surface Feeders either chew plant leaves or stems (sod webworm, armyworm, cut worm, billbugs, etc.) or suck the plant juices (chinch bugs, greenbugs, etc.)
  
• Underground Feeders, such as white grubs, attack the grass roots. Make sure to properly identify the insect damage.

Select the appropriate insect control product for your problem.
Carefully follow all product application directions.

Disease Control

General Information

Disease damage can occur rapidly when proper lawn maintenance practices are not followed.
Fungi are the main cause of most turf diseases, and tend to recur in the same general location every year, given favorable temperatures and humidity conditions.

While disease activity can naturally decline due to a change in the weather conditions, a preventative fungicide program is the most effective remedy for fungus problems.

Effective Cultural Control Methods

Water on the recommended schedule - avoid frequent light waterings.
Only remove 1/3 of the grass tops when mowing.
When possible, provide for adequate ventilation of the lawn (remove low tree branches, etc.)
Plant disease resistant grass varieties recommended for your area.

Conditions Favorable to the Growth of Fungus:

• Accumulation of wet leaves cause a humid environment.
• Surface watering in the evening encourages fungal growth.
• Excessive clippings generate high temperatures and humidity.
• Accumulated thatch weakens grass, making it more susceptible to disease.