Protect your lawn and landscape from destructive insects with our targeted outdoor pest management guides. Learn to visually identify soil-dwelling grubs, surface-feeding chinch bugs, and biting pests like ticks or mosquitoes. Implement precise, step-by-step eradication protocols using biological controls and specific insecticide applications to halt structural turf damage.
To stop bagworms from destroying your arborvitae, you need to spray the foliage with a biological insecticide like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in late May when the larvae are actively feeding and vulnerable. If you wait until late July when the bags harden and reach 2 inches long, synthetic chemicals fail completely, leaving manual removal as … Read more
Stop Japanese beetle grubs immediately by applying a curative insecticide containing Trichlorfon at 3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft, watered in with at least 0.5 inches of irrigation. Kill the active infestation within 24 to 48 hours to halt root damage and stop raccoons from digging up your yard. Follow up next spring with a … Read more
Bifenthrin and Clothianidin are the most effective curative active ingredients that kill adult billbugs on contact and eradicate active larvae in the thatch layer. For long-term prevention, applying a systemic insecticide like Imidacloprid in late spring kills newly hatched larvae before they can hollow out your turfgrass stems. Liquid applications offer the fastest knockdown for … Read more
Rose flower buds fall off before opening—a condition known as “bud drop” or “bud blast”—primarily due to microscopic rose midges, severe thrip infestations, or Botrytis blight. Sudden fluctuations in soil moisture and extreme heat waves also force the shrub to abort its blooms to conserve energy. Saving the remaining buds requires immediately identifying whether you … Read more
Chinch bugs inject a toxin into grass blades that stops water absorption, turning patches of your lawn brown and brittle within days. The most effective chinch bug lawn treatment is an immediate broadcast application of a pyrethroid like Bifenthrin, combined with a systemic insecticide like Imidacloprid. You must water the liquid or granular product deep … Read more
Are mole crickets dangerous to humans or pets? No. They do not bite, they lack stingers, and they do not transmit diseases. If you pick one up, you might feel a mild scratching sensation from their heavily armored, shovel-like front legs trying to dig into your skin, but they are entirely harmless to you. To … Read more
Armyworms feed above ground, chewing grass blades down to the dirt in a matter of days and leaving jagged edges. Grubs feed below ground, severing the roots so your turf rolls back like a loose carpet. If birds are pecking your dead turf, check the soil for white, C-shaped grubs or the surface for striped … Read more
Virginia creeper has five distinct leaflets radiating from a central point and attaches to surfaces using small adhesive pads. Poison ivy always has three leaves and climbs tree trunks using thick, hairy aerial roots. While Virginia creeper is a harmless native vine, poison ivy contains urushiol, an oil that causes severe allergic reactions upon contact. … Read more
Yes, termites have wings at a specific stage in their life cycle. These flying termites, called swarmers or alates, emerge from mature colonies to mate and start new nests. Finding flying termites or their discarded wings inside your house means an active, mature colony of at least three to five years old is already feeding … Read more
House flies laying eggs on exposed, decaying organic matter cause maggots in your trash. When raw meat, pet waste, or food scraps sit in a warm, unsealed bin, flies detect the odor from miles away. Within 24 hours of landing, a single female fly deposits hundreds of eggs that hatch into maggots. Identification Guide In … Read more
