Is your grass looking lackluster? It is possible that some stealthy lawn killers are at work, deteriorating your lawn and impacting the condition of your landscaping. The first step is to identify what is putting your greenspaces at risk- and then to contact a professional landscaping and ground services company for help.
Be aware of these six stealthy lawn killers:
1. Voles
Voles can wreak havoc on a lawn- and the damage can be costly. Voles are small rodents that tunnel and dig, killing vegetation including grass and trees. Some species are native to the Carolinas, such as Pine voles for example, and are found throughout the mountains and meadows of the region. Signs of voles include burrowed paths, a couple inches wide, on the turf and grass, as well as around plants and trees. In the case of an infestation, reach out to a pest management company right away.
2. Pearl Bugs
Another stealthy lawn killer are pearl bugs. This insect gets its name from its small, pearl-like appearance. Pearl bugs will eat the soil and sod, destroying your lawn, and will continue until there is no vegetation left to consume. These bugs tend to cluster together, buried a few inches into the earth. If you are faced with a pearl bug infestation, it is recommended that you remove the sod, replenish the soil, and replant your grass.
3. Beetles and Grubs
If you live in the Carolinas, you likely are aware of the issues that beetles and grubs bring to your landscaping. Beetle larvae include some beetles that can destroy and decimate a lawn. These insects typically manifest in spring, usually May to June, and the result is spongy grass that turns brown and dies. Perhaps the most damaging and prevalent of these are Japanese beetles and the junebug.
4. Chinch Bugs
Is your lawn or grass inexplicably turning brown? In the southeast, this may be a sign of chinch bugs. The Chinch bug is a stealthy killer that compromise both warm and cool season types of grass, and they do their damage by gnawing on and removing moisture from each blade of grass. While they feed on your lawn, they are also releasing toxins that will eventually kill your grass.
5. Fire Ants
Fire ants are a notable problem in the Carolinas. They create underground tunnels and large ant hills throughout the landscape. A sign that you have an issue is the sight of these dirt mounds on your property, and they can spread fast. Fire ants bite humans and pets and are quite aggressive. It is best to steer clear of them and talk with a pest control or landscape professional about treating your lawn and exteriors.
6. Mole Crickets
If your lawn is compromised by mole crickets, you may be able to recover and restore your grass. The lawn has the best chance of recovery during hotter weather, as the mole crickets slow down and don’t do as much in the heat. The true extent of damage by mole crickets may not be noticeable until fall. A sign of mole cricket damage is a reddish or yellow tinge to the edges of the grass blades.
Is your lawn suffering because of these six stealth pests? Contact the experts at Carolina Services Grounds Division, a Commercial Landscaping and Ground Services Company in Charleston, SC, to restore your exteriors and greenspaces. To learn more, contact us today!
