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Physical Ways to Avoid White Grub Infestation
By Jackie Tyler Platinum Quality Author


A healthy lawn can endure grubs feeding on it.  The damage will not be as apparent as on a lawn that is weak or stressed.  Such lawns can prepare themselves.  Try to provide the best environment possible for your lawn, such as proper drainage.  When moisture levels in the ground are elevated, more damage will result.  Proper drainage for your lawn includes removing with a rake or with a dethatching machine the thatch that can't be removed manually.  This will help to aerate compacted soil, aiding in proper drainage.

The beetles lay their eggs, generally in late July or early August, in a short lawn.  Therefore, it is advisable to raise your lawn mower blade in order to lengthen the grass and discourage egg laying on your property.  The optimum height for grass should be between 21/2 -- 3 inches.  Other benefits that come with longer grass shards are that less watering is required, because the soil maintains hydration longer, thereby reducing water consumption. Hence, reducing costs.

With that said, water your lawn deeply once per week only.  What you are trying to achieve is to send water beneath the roots to encourage deep grass roots. If you are unsure as to how much water is enough, this tip will help: place a container near your sprinkler to collect water; once the container fills with about one inch of water, that's enough.

Clean your lawn in the fall, thoroughly.  Don't allow it to winterize with dead leaves or weeds on it. Use a rake to remove the thatch as this can expose the grubs to animals that want to feed on them.

You can physically pick beetles by hand as well, although most of us don't have the time or the desire to do so. If you notice grubs, you must understand that they will and are feeding on the roots of your grass, therefore apply fertilizer with high potassium and seed in those areas in order to keep grass healthy.

Another method to control grubs in your lawn is by applying milky spore.  This literally kills them and it is an environmentally safe bacteria product.

Does your lawn look like a tank has driven over it or as if some people have been playing golf on it while you were sleeping? If so, your lawn is probably infested with white grubs. You must act quickly, before they take control of the turf. Don't miss the optimum time to get a hold of the situation. Get all the information you need about treating white grubs at Milky-Spore. There you will find the solution.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jackie_Tyler

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Japanese beetles have become an annual nuisance in yards and gardens throughout the area. They are appearing on a variety of host plants and are likely to be around for the next four to six weeks.

Japanese beetles have several characteristics that make them significant plant pests. First, they are most active in mid-day in bright sunlight, usually in large numbers. Secondly, they have a very wide host range because more than 200 species of trees, shrubs and flowers have been documented as feeding targets. Favourites on the list seem to be linden, maples, crabapple, elm, grape and roses.

The other characteristic that makes them significant is their feeding habit. Adult beetles congregate on the outermost foliage in bright sunlight and consume tissue between the veins of the leaf. This damage is called skeletonizing. Leaves will turn a very visible brown and may drop.

Finally, these pests lay eggs in the soil that hatch into white grubs, potentially creating a concern for turfgrass damage later in August and September. Seeing beetles swarming now does not necessarily mean lots of grub damage later. There is still plenty of time before they turn their attention to lawns, so watch for details on white grub management next week.

In the meantime, what can one do to stop the beetles? Foliage damage can be lessened, but not eliminated, using insecticides such as carbaryl (Sevin), or products containing cyfluthrin (Tempo, Bayer Advanced Multiinsect Killer) or labeled insecticides containing pyrethroid. Read product labels carefully before purchasing or applying them. Treatment is most often suggested for smaller plants or new transplants, rather than large established trees. The earlier the better, so act as soon as beetles start feeding.

Research has shown Japanese beetle traps may draw more beetles into the area and not into the traps, so potentially, plant damage could increase. Another option on smaller plants is to hand pick the beetles off. Drop or sweep them into a container of soapy water.

? Send questions to Bruce Spangenberg, c/o the Features Department, Northwest Herald, P.O. Box 250, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0250. http://www.nwherald.com/columnists/columns/2009/07/17/r_qbxatmvvqq2fm6inkc2kzq/index.xml

 

If you have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care - get The KING OF GREEN – The Lawn Care Experts

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Copyright 2010 Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.

By Paul Tukey / SafeLawns.org

Buzz up!

Once upon a time, before the advent of synthetic weed killers for the lawn in the late 1940s, most American lawns contained white clover. Because no formulation of weed control could be developed that left both grass and clover survive, but killed everything else, clover was then lumped in with the weeds in subsequent marketing campaigns.

The scientist who developed 2,4-D, the most common synthetic herbicide, was publicly apologetic because his new product had the unfortunate side effect of eliminating clover. "The thought of white Dutch clover as a lawn weed will come as a distinct shock to old-time gardeners," wrote Dr. R. Milton Carleton in his 1957 book, A New Way to Kill Weeds. "I can remember the day when lawn mixtures were judged for quality by the percentage of clover seed they contained. The higher this figure, the better the mixture."

Today's new-found emphasis on natural lawn care has folks taking a second look at clover as a primary lawn plant. The benefits are numerous:
Six Good Reasons White Clover Is Not a Weed

1.      It's low growing and needs little mowing.
2.      It's evergreen even in the coldest climates.
3.      It's drought-tolerant, requiring little if any supplemental water once established.
4.      It's a fertilizer factory for grass and other plants since clover has the ability to store atmospheric nitrogen in its root systems.
5.      It masks the presence of other weeds in the lawn.
6.      It resists insects and diseases, especially the white grubs that can become a major lawn nemesis.

Paul Tukey is the founder of Safelawns.org. See all his Organic Lawn Care Tips.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/clover-lawn-weeds-47071703#ixzz0LoYzcLAd

 

See also GTI Newsletter about clover

If you have a lawn/tree/shrub that needs some Tender Loving Care - get The KING OF GREEN – The Lawn Care Experts

Turf King Home

Click here to Request a Quote Online -

or call us at 905.318.6677 or 1.888.TURFKING (887.3546)

If you would like more information, please Contact us

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Copyright 2010 Turf King-Hamilton. All Rights Reserved.

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