Successfully protecting your lawn and garden from common pests in Colorado Springs is essential to the overall look and feel of your lawn. Because of the unpredictable, dry climate in Colorado Springs, keeping your lawn looking top-notch can already be a struggle for many residents. This challenge becomes even harder when you start to consider the common pests that can invade. There is a wide array of “pests” that can contaminate your lawn, from deer and wild animals to small insects and bugs. These critters can turn a beautiful lawn into a wasteland if not properly monitored and maintained.
Insects
There are several different species of insects that love to eat the grass on your lawn. Four of the most common insect pests you will find in your Colorado lawn include:
- Billbugs – a type of weevil. These usually grow up to a half-inch in length and are slow-moving. These insects are considered very destructive to lawns. They feed on grass stems and work their way down to the roots, killing your grass blade by blade.
- White Grubs – these are immature larvae of several species of scarab beetles. These extremely destructive turf pests feed on grassroots just below the soil surface.
- Mites – mites feed on grassroots and blades with their rasping-sucking mouthparts and can damage the grass often to the point of death. In Colorado Springs, mites are usually found on the south-facing sides of buildings, rock beds, sun-exposed slopes, and pine trees. The mites often feed on the grass from November to March during warm and dry weather.
- Chinch Bugs – Chinch bugs are tiny bugs that can cause major damage to your lawn by sucking your grass blades dry.
How To Prevent an Insect Invasion
The best and most powerful thing you can do to protect your lawn from insects is to make sure it is healthy and continuously watered. The stronger and fuller your lawn is, the more resistant it is to pest damage. If the plants and grass in your yard are dry, weak, and under-watered, even a small insect infestation could make a BIG dent in your lawn or garden.
What to do if you discover an insect infestation in your lawn
If an insect problem is discovered, it’s important to continue doing everything you can to keep the lawn healthy by watering consistently and mowing. An insecticide should be used depending on the type of insect discovered. Different insects require a different treatment. This is where The Lawnsmith comes in. We are well-versed in the common insects found here in Colorado Springs and can recommend the best and fastest solution to eliminate the problem.
If you decide to choose your own insecticide, make sure you follow the instructions very carefully and be extra careful if you have pets or kids who frequent the yard. Water your lawn after applying an insecticide to help the treatment absorb into the soil. This will make your lawn safe again, while ensuring the insects below the ground are taken out.
“Burrowers”
In Colorado there are a few burrowing animals that can reap havoc on your lawn like rabbits and voles. These animals eat your plants and burrow root-destroying tunnels beneath the surface of your lawn which makes it very difficult to maintain healthy grass.
Preventing Burrowing Pests
Baited or mechanical traps are your best defense against these pests.
Deer
In Colorado Springs, we are no strangers to the effects of deer on our lawns. Large mammals like deer are known to crush your plants and lawn and will eat your plants and low-hanging branches of your trees.
Preventing Deer
Preventing these animals from entering your lawn requires a tall fence (at least 8 feet tall) to be placed around the perimeter of your lawn. If this is not feasible, then there are a few steps you can take to treat the problem.
- Repellant – there are several brands of store-bought repellant you can spray around your lawn to prevent deer from invading.
- Light – a motion activated light can scare off deer or elk at night.
- Loud noises – Frighten deer away when you spot them with a loud clap or whistle.
- Deer resistant plant varieties- There are many deer resistant plant varieties, which is an excellent solution.
In Colorado, you’re likely to deal with at least one lawn pest or two every year. But a well-maintained, healthy lawn can take the stress of these pests better than a weak one. Need a helping hand to keep your lawn growing strong all summer long? Call the experts at The Lawnsmith to give your lawn a fighting chance against Colorado wildlife!
