Suspect insect pests if you see yellow or brown spots on the lawn. Look for insects both above and below the surface of the soil. If you find insects, send a sample to your county Agricultural Extension Service for identification. A number of different insect species feed on turf grass--some on roots, which kills grass by depriving it of water and nutrients, some on thatch and others on foliage. Never use chemical insecticides indiscriminately or spray simply because your neighbors are doing so. First you'll need to determine whether you have an insect problem. One good way to find out what's bothering your lawn is to apply a soap flush. Add 2 teaspoons dishwashing liquid to 1 gallon water, and pour this mixture over a 2' by 2' area of your lawn. The flush will irritate insect pests feeding below the surface, forcing them to come up; others will be killed. When insects come to the surface, bag them and have them identified. If you see more than two to three armyworms, five to six sod webworms or just one cutworm in a 2' by 2' area, treat your lawn to a soap flush, or apply a nontoxic treatment--the bacterium BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) or beneficial nematodes. To control insect pests in the lawn, follow these steps: - Identify the pests.
- Inspect the lawn for damage.
- Determine the amount of damage: you may not need to treat.
- Use the least toxic method of control first: keep in mind that pesticides may kill beneficial insects as well as harmful ones.
- Plan the treatment so that it coincides with the pest's life cycle: adult insects are harder to kill than larvae.
- Monitor the lawn regularly so you can detect problems early.
If chemical spraying is necessary to control insect pests, check the package label to make sure the product is registered for use on turf grasses and will kill the insect you're trying to control. Insecticides come in both granular and liquid form. Apply the former with a spreader. Liquid insecticides are usually applied with a sprayer and often come in both concentrated and premixed forms. Use a hose-end sprayer or a portable spray tank to apply concentrates. As you apply liquid insecticides, walk away from, never through, the treated area. Don't apply insecticides on windy days. Wait for the grass to dry before you walk on it or allow children and pets to use the lawn.
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