Eventually, winter is put to bed and spring comes into the scene.
This is when your lawn wakes up. It goes from a dormant state to full-on growth. It’s one of those signs of spring that make you happy to get outdoors and stick your toes in that soft, healthy, emerald green grass.
Green and growing is the desired and expected sight once this season arrives. So when you’re faced with a brown lawn that looks splotchy or unhappy, it can put a damper on your spring.
Pest infestations can be the culprits of poor lawn health. Your lawn has some roots that are tasty to these pests as they grow underground. And if your lawn is weak or lacking in nutrients, this makes it even more susceptible to pests.
Let’s take a look at some common lawn damaging pests in spring.
When you sense that your lawn isn’t happy in spring, and you suspect insects, looking for some common signs of their presence is a good first step.
You’re looking for brown spots, dead or dying patches of grass, wilting grass blades, thin or missing roots, holes in the soil, and even the presence of insects or grubs.
Here are the three main spring lawn pests to watch out for in Maryland.
Grubs are the worst of the lawn damaging insects in spring.
White grubs are actually the larvae of a large variety of beetles, including Japanese beetles. In summer, adult beetles mate and lay eggs in the soil. Those eggs hatch in two weeks and the grubs start feeding on grass roots. By fall, as colder weather sets in, the growing grubs burrow several inches into the soil and go dormant for the winter.
Signs of grub damage include wilted grass blades, brown lawn patches and even dead grass. The grass may feel spongy in spots and lift up easily, revealing grubs underneath. You might also catch critters like skunks or moles digging in your lawn looking for the grubs as a snack.
When they are adults, crane flies look like big mosquitoes, but they are pretty harmless to your lawn at this stage. It’s when their eggs hatch in spring, producing larvae that look like small brown worms, when you have to worry. Those larvae feed on grass roots in spring and summer.
You can usually spot the larvae in areas of your grass where it appears to be dying. If you peel back a portion of grass to look at the roots, you can see the wormlike larvae.
In the spring in Maryland, cutworm moth adults lay eggs on grass blade tips. Those eggs hatch into worms that feed during the night and hide during the day, making them another pretty menacing lawn damaging pest in spring.
Look for grass blades bitten off at their bases. Grass mown too short usually suffers the most damage, leading to dead spots.
Because a lot of these pests feed underground where you can’t see them, their stealth munching on your lawn roots can go unnoticed. The problem with that is if it goes on for too long, your lawn can suffer major damage.
To prevent these pests, you must start with a healthy, happy, thriving lawn. Never mow it so it’s lower than 3.5 inches high. Fertilize correctly and adequately. Aeration and overseeding in the fall can help reduce compaction and aid lawn growth, making it thick and strong.
When warmer days arrive, lawn damaging pests in spring are not invited.
While you’re planning your outdoor fun and grilling adventures, you don’t want a brown and pest-infested lawn to ruin your season.
If you are looking around your lawn and have a feeling that pests may be causing the damage you’re seeing, trust your gut. Not sure where to start? Give Natural Green a call.
Stop pests before they start in spring. Request a free quote today. We’ll review your options together so you can make the best choice for you. Then you can sit back and enjoy your lawn.
Image Source: Grub, Cranefly Larvae, Cutworm