Lawn Pest Control - Keep Pest Off Your Lawn

How to Protect your Lawn from Insects

Most homeowners spend a great deal of time on lawn maintenance. People mow, weed, fertilize and seed for hours each week trying to develop the greenest, most beautiful lawn possible. Beneath the lush greenery could lurk hidden intruders, however. Even the most beautiful lawn could be home to tiny creatures capable of doing a tremendous amount of damage.

Just as homes often become infested with insects that have the potential to damage the structure of the home and destroy the peace of mind of the residents, lawns are often invaded by insects. Some pests disturb soil, destroy plants and trees from the roots, devour greenery and annoy or frighten human occupants. Even if no insects are visible, they may be buried in the soil, where they cause such problems as dead sod and bare patches. Insect control is a crucial part of lawn maintenance.Insect Identification

One of the biggest barriers to lawn pest control is that bugs often do the worst of their damage from underground, where they are practically invisible. All even the most careful observer can see is the terrible damage they often cause. Before any action is taken to eliminate the problem, the culprit must be identified. This is often difficult for homeowners to do themselves.

A local outdoor pest control expert will be familiar with the types of insects in any particular area and the best steps to take to identify and then eliminate the problem. Pests that typically attack from below the ground include grubs, billbugs and mole crickets. Others, such as spittlebugs, cutworms and chinch bugs, live above ground, where they destroy grass and foliage. However, they are also often hard for the untrained eye to spot.

Every different species has its own unique life cycle, behavior pattern and destructive habits. As a result, lawn pest control is not a one-size-fits-all prospect. Each insect responds to different approaches, and different combinations of pests respond best to different chemicals and application methods.

Because many pesticides pose potential dangers to humans and pets, do-it-yourself pest control can be a risky proposition. Reputable pest control companies provide extensive training to their employees to ensure that the pests are eliminated without harm to occupants, pets or the lawn itself.

Outdoor Pest Control

Some pests never damage a blade of grass or nibble on a single root. Many of these pests, such as mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, are after a different kind of meal. Some of these insects, such as ticks and fleas, join houseflies and outdoor roaches in carrying diseases that can affect humans and pets.

Wasps, hornets and bees can cause painful stings and potentially dangerous reactions to those who are allergic to their poisons. Swarming carpenter ants or termites have the potential to cause serious structural damage to homes. Gnats, noseeums and other similar insects may not bite, sting or pose health hazards, but they can still make being outside miserable.

Sometimes, do-it-yourself methods can help to manage these pests for a time. When they become too difficult to manage, professional pest control companies can often eliminate these nuisances at their source. Spraying breeding grounds and applying treatments to kill these insects is a two-pronged approach that can effectively eliminate annoying bug problems. A proper lawn pest control plan can restore the joys of outdoor living to a homeowner.

Prevention

Prevention is the best outdoor insect control method there is. As part of an effective pest prevention program, homeowners should maintain a healthy, well-watered, well-fed lawn. Another important aspect of prevention that is often overlooked is regular inspections. Having a professional pest control expert conduct regular, routine lawn inspections can stop infestations before they have a chance to cause damage.