DIY Network

Your Lawn and Bugs From "Grow It & Mow It" episode DMOW-103

It's you versus the bugs! To keep a nice lawn, you must wage a war against the pesky critters. Landscape warrior Pam Mattis is on deck to help "weed out" the bugs.

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B

Bug Tests

1. There are two low cost ways to see what bugs are living in your lawn. Take a paint can and remove the bottom of it so it is a hollow cylinder (figure A). Put the can on the ground and using a trowel, dig around the can. Wedge the can into the ground. Pour in water until the can is filled. Some water will spill out of the sides and some will be absorbed into the ground. Fill the can again and chinchbugs and spittlebugs will come to the top.

2. Here’s another water test that checks for bigger bugs like webworms or billbugs. Fill a bucket with soapy water and pour it on a section of your lawn (figure B). The soap will irritate the skin of the bugs and make them wiggle to the surface.

These won’t help you get rid of the bugs, just identify what’s in your yard and potentially causing problems.

Grub

Bugged by Bugs

Grubs

• Small, white "C" shaped creatures with six legs.

• Common around the country.

• Damage the grass roots.

• Grass feels like loose carpet if you have more than five eating around the same spot. You can pull it out with your hands.

• If you have different kinds of beetles in your yard, you’ll likely find grubs.

• Five to eight grubs eating within a square foot of your lawn will do serious damage.

Webworm

Catepillars (and Webworms)

• You can tell you have these when your grass looks tattered and torn.

• Catepillars chew notches in the grass.

• With proper care such as mowing, fertilizing and watering, it can recover.

Chinchbug

Chinchbugs

• Small insect that can destroy a lawn if it’s hot and dry.

• They suck the juices from the grass and inject toxins which loosens the grass from the soil.

• They can go through a lawn in no time.

• They are 1/20 of an inch in size. Very small but can do massive damage.

	Mole Cricket
	Insecticides

Mole Cricket

• Digs and tunnels through yard. It exposes the grass roots to the air and causes them to dry out. They don’t eat the grass.

Moles

• Eats grubs and mole crickets. They tunnel and expose roots to the air causing it to die.

Killing Bugs with Chemicals

If you mow at the right height, fertilize and water properly, the grass can defend itself and recover. You don’t have to reach for an insecticide right away. Occasionally, you will have to reach for the chemicals, but only after proper cultural practices have failed.

• Follow instructions on the package.

• Wear rubber gloves and eye protection when mixing and spreading chemicals.

• Apply insecticides on a day when there is no breeze.

• Store away from pets and children.