Handling Lawn Insects
Sometimes, just when all is
well in
"lawn land," insects wreak havoc, causing distress and
potential embarrassment. There's no doubt insect problems, along with
their
"evil twin" lawn disease, can baffle even the pros.
Scouting
for lawn insects
To stay on top of most turf problems,
learn to be a "good scout." Good scouting requires keeping a watchful
eye for developing problems. It always helps to know the history of past
insect problems, as well as what time of year they are likely to
develop.
Good scouting would have spotted
this grub problem sooner
Two Sides of Pesticides
There are two sides to the pesticide
issue, and the lines are as clearly drawn as in most political
elections. Without going to extremes on either end, it's possible to be
an "independent" and only use pesticides when it's absolutely necessary.
This "when to use them" analysis involves using "thresholds" - in other
words, what level of pest population (and resulting damage) is
acceptable. By electing not to use any pesticides at all, it's usually
necessary to lower your expectations slightly.
To be environmentally responsible, one should also look for solutions
that do the least damage to the environment. Many good "biological
controls" have been developed to replace chemical insecticides.
LawnBoss tip: Read the complete label on any product you use
and follow label instructions.
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