Pests are some of the biggest challenges in lawn care. Whether you tend to a personal garden or a commercial lawn, these unwanted visitors can wreak havoc if left unchecked.
In this guide, we explore common garden pests and how to effectively manage them while minimizing their harm to your lawn.
Japanese Beetles
What They Look Like
These metallic blue or green insects are about an inch and a half long with coppery wings. They have six legs and wide, oval-shaped bodies with feelers that can open like a fan.
How They Damage Plants
Japanese beetles feed on the foliage of many garden plants, including roses, grapes, fruit trees and hibiscus, leaving behind only leaf veins. Additionally, their larvae spend the winter underground in the soil and can eat grass roots in spring before emerging as adult beetles. Heavy beetle infestations can quickly skeletonize leaves, making plants vulnerable to disease.
Treatment Methods
Timing matters when it comes to effective garden pest control. Handpick Japanese beetles from your plants daily, especially during the early morning when they are less active. Drop them into a container of soapy water to dispose of them. You may also introduce beneficial nematodes to your soil to help reduce the larvae population.
Caterpillars
What They Look Like
Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Most caterpillars have short-segmented antennae and strong jaws. They have long, segmented bodies with three pairs of legs on the thorax and short, fleshy prolegs on the abdomen. Some may have vibrant patterns, while others blend in with their surroundings. They can conceal themselves among foliage or in rolled leaves.
How They Damage Plants
Different types of caterpillars vary in feeding habits. For instance, young foliage-feeders often feed in clusters on a few leaves, devouring the surface layers of tissue. As they grow, they branch out to feed on entire leaves from the edge inward.
On the other hand, leafrollers, which are small, semi-opaque caterpillars, often harm plants by folding leaves and securing them with silk. They feed from within these protective nests and may cause stress to fruit-bearing plants. As a result, young fruits may develop deformities and deep scars.
Treatment Methods
Regularly inspect your plants and manually remove caterpillars when you spot them. Apply natural insecticides and use insect barrier fabrics to cover susceptible young plants.
Aphids
What They Look Like
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with pear-shaped or oval bodies, often slightly flattened from top to bottom. They can range from green, black, red, yellow, brown, or gray. Aphids have long antennae and two “tailpipes” known as cornicles at the end of the abdomen.
How They Damage Plants
Aphids are sap-sucking insects that wreak havoc on plants by piercing plant tissues and extracting sap. This feeding behavior can lead to stunted plant growth, yellowing, discoloration and leaf curling. As aphids feed on one plant and move to another, they can transmit diseases and infect otherwise healthy plants.
Treatment Methods
There are several ways to control aphid infestations. First, consider releasing natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings into your garden. These bugs have a hearty appetite for aphids and can help keep their numbers in check.
Another option is to use a spray with neem oil derived from the seed of the tropical neem tree. It combats aphids and addresses various common garden pests and fungal diseases. Aphids multiply quickly, so applying garden pest control methods is essential.
Slugs and Snails
What They Look Like
Slugs and snails belong to the mollusk family and are similar in appearance. They possess soft, slimy bodies that are typically brown or gray.
Slugs have soft internal shells, while snails have hard, protective external shells that are coiled and spiral-shaped. Both pests possess two upper tentacles that protrude from their foreheads. They carry eyes on the tips and are used for sight and smell. They also have shorter, lower tentacles extending down from their heads used for taste and touch.
How They Damage Plants
Snails and slugs have a varied diet, consisting of leaves, turfgrass seedlings, fruits, vegetables and decaying plant matter. They create irregular holes with smooth edges on leaves and flowers.
Snails and slugs prefer seedlings and ripening fruits close to the ground, including tomatoes and strawberries. They can also target trees’ bark, fruit and foliage, especially citrus varieties.
Treatment Methods
Set up traps to entice and capture snails and slugs effectively. Embed containers such as empty yogurt cups or shallow dishes into the ground and generously fill them with beer, a favored lure for these garden pests!
Remove common snail and slug hiding spots during the day, such as stones, boards, weedy areas and low-hanging branches. Consider spray repellents and apply beneficial nematodes to control their populations.
Mealybugs
What They Look Like
Mealybugs are typically oval-shaped and covered in a fluffy, cotton-like white or gray wax that can make them appear like they’ve been dusted with powder. Underneath this waxy coating, their bodies are soft and segmented.
Mature mealybugs may exhibit wax filaments along their body edges. In certain species, these filaments are more pronounced at the rear, which can help distinguish between various mealybug species.
How They Damage Plants
Mealybugs feed by piercing plant tissues and sucking plant sap. This feeding behavior has detrimental consequences for plants, causing several issues, such as yellowing or curling leaves, stunted growth, wilting, or even plant demise. Mealybugs also secrete honeydew, which can promote the development of black sooty mold on plant surfaces.
Treatment Methods
Take immediate garden pest control measures if you spot a mealybug infestation. Begin by handpicking the bugs or pruning and eliminating the affected plant parts. Be sure to dispose of the infested material correctly.
To further control the infestation, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to affected plants. Consider the use of systemic insecticides or natural predators, such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps.
Make it a habit to inspect your plants for any signs of infestation regularly. Early detection allows you to address issues promptly before they escalate into more severe problems.
Enjoy a Lush, Healthy and Pest-Free Lawn
Effective garden pest control prevents plant damage and ensures long-term lawn growth. By partnering with a trusted lawn care company like Pest Control Unlimited, you benefit from tailored solutions and expert guidance.
We serve commercial and residential clients, providing them with tick control and mosquito control solutions as well as one-time and quarterly programs. Our coverage spans various areas in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Reach out to us today and keep your lawn thriving all year round.
