Ants crashing your BBQ party. Bees chasing your kids on the field. Flies, mosquitoes, spiders, worms – there’s no way around insects unless you have synthetic grass in Modesto CA.
Still, some of them aren’t just pesky. There are other pests that can cause significant damage to an otherwise well-maintained lawn. If you don’t act, they can turn your dream yard into a nightmare in no time.
Here are five of the most dangerous insects for natural lawns:
1. Beetle Larvae (aka Grubs)
Grubs are one of the most destructive pests that can infest a natural lawn. The larvae feed on plant roots and can cause extensive damage in a single season. Symptoms of a grub problem include:
- Wilted plants
- Curled or yellowed grass blades
- Large patches of dead turf grass
Beetle larvae are the immature form of beetles that include Japanese beetles and scarab beetles. They’re most abundant in April – July when they’re feeding on plant roots underground.
2. Chinch Bugs
Chinch bugs attack grass in two ways: first, they feed by sucking on sap from the grass blades. Second, they secrete an anticoagulant while feeding that prevents the grass from absorbing water, eventually causing it to wither and dry.
You’ll notice damage from chinch bugs in early summer. The leaves on your lawn will start to appear dry, brown and brittle, which resembles drought stress. Because droughts are so common in California, most Modesto homeowners aren’t even aware that the bugs are causing the damage.
Chinch bug infestations can be hard to control, particularly once they’ve progressed beyond your lawn.
3. Armyworms
This bug’s name is a warning for what it does. Armyworms are turf grass eaters and they love to munch on your lawn when their numbers rise. They can completely skeletonize a grass leaf in a matter of hours.
Although they’re most abundant in late summer, armyworms can attack at any time during the growing season. Severe cases of armyworms will make the lawn appear to move.
4. Cutworms
Cutworms are nocturnal pests that live in the soil during the day and come out at night to eat the grass at their base. As cutworms burrow underground, they sever the stems completely, leaving an obvious “shearing” effect.
Short grass varieties are particularly vulnerable to cutworms. The damage to the lawn often leads to dead spots and it’s common for homeowners to be tempted to compensate with fertilizers or other pesticides.
Synthetic Grass in Modesto CA for Total Pest Control
There’s one thing these bugs have in common: natural grass, which is a magnet for all things that ruin a yard. Insects find it appetizing and easy to access. Plus, they’re nearly impossible to spot until the damage is already done.
The answer isn’t another pesticide or reseeding your lawn. It’s an upgrade to artificial grass.
Artificial grass in Modesto can stand up to grubs, armyworms, chinch bugs, cutworms and basically any other pest you can think of. Here’s why:
- Bugs won’t find anything to eat on artificial grass.
- There’s no soil where they can burrow, breed and hide.
- There’s no stagnant water, damp and dark corners or overgrown spots for them to call home.
In short, synthetic lawns are resistant to pest invasion. This also reduces your exposure to dangerous chemicals like pesticides.
Finally, artificial grass allows you to enjoy a beautiful and green environment without the threat of pests, drought, mud or any other maintenance nightmare.
For more information on artificial grass installation in Modesto CA contact us at 408-723-4954 today or send us a message.
A member of the Modesto Artificial Grass team will get back to you soon!