Lawn Pest Control [9 Top Pests and Natural Solutions]

The organic lawn approach has been yielding amazing results in creating a lush and healthy lawn. Weeds have been suppressed and are diminishing. The lawn is thriving and creating a great space for the family to enjoy being outside. Then the pests arrive.

So much focus has been given to establishing a sustainable lawn and knocking back weeds, that attention was not given to the insects and critters that can invade and damage the lawn. They can be annoying at best and downright damaging and destructive at worst.

Before reaching for chemical sprays and pesticides, there are natural options that can prove effective at reducing the pest presence or even eradicating it completely. There are plenty of natural, safe and surprisingly effective strategies to keep pests away while maintaining a healthy, eco-friendly lawn. In addistion, companies that specialize in organic lawn care can help if you’d rather hire an expert for your natural lawn pest control.

Before diving into the pests and how to handle them, consider why to choose natural and organic options instead of synthetic pesticides:

1. Safety for Kids and Pets: Many chemical pesticides are toxic and can linger in the soil or on grass, posing risks to children and pets. Even after waiting for an appropriate re-entry period, the residue will persist, increasing the chance of encountering the chemical while in the yard or even tracking it into the house.
2. Protects Beneficial Insects: Natural methods target harmful pests without harming pollinators like bees and butterflies or soil-building allies like earthworms. Most natural methods are very pest specific in their approach and efficacy, which greatly diminishes the chances of intended consequences.
3. Environmental Responsibility: Chemical runoff from lawns often ends up in waterways, contributing to pollution or even harming aquatic wildlife. Pesticides are more chemically designed to affect the insect/animal world, unlike herbicides which target plant life and often have less toxicity in relation to insects and animals. Natural methods are safer for the environment.
4. Improves Soil Health: Organic pest control methods often enhance your lawn’s overall ecosystem, creating a more resilient yard. Pesticides can unintentionally work to sterilize the beneficial ecosystem created by the organic fertilizer and compost top dressing.

Here are several common lawn pests. While not an exhaustive list, these are some of the issues homeowners are likely to face and lawn pest control solutions:

Grubs

Grubs are the larvae of beetles like Japanese beetles or June bugs. These plump, white critters live underground and feed on grass roots, causing brown patches and spongy turf. Discovering a grub or two may not require immediate action. It takes approximately 10 grubs per square foot to begin creating noticeable root damage. Seeing brown patches may be a good indication of grubs, but it may also be the result of a myriad of other issues, including fungus. To determine if grubs are the culprit, take a flat spade and lift a section of turf — a 1-foot x 1-foot square – to examine if grubs are present in large numbers. The best area to sample may best be at the edge of a noticeable brown patch.

Natural Solutions:

• Introduce Beneficial Nematodes: These microscopic organisms are like the lawn’s pest-control army. They seek out and kill grubs while leaving earthworms and other beneficial creatures unharmed. Nematodes would be applied following the milky spore application, and the two combined offer more protection. Nematodes are the more immediate solution to reduce grubs.
• Milky Spore: This naturally occurring bacterium targets Japanese beetle grubs specifically. Once applied, it can stay effective for years. Applying milky spore in early spring before grubs hatch allows it penetrate the soil and begin becoming effective. Following with beneficial nematodes would shortly after milky spore applications will target existing grub population and add longer lasting effectiveness.
• Dethatch Your Lawn: Thick thatch layers provide a cozy home for grubs. Regular dethatching reduces their habitat. A reasonable amount of thatch is present in nearly every healthy lawn. Thatch does not reach critical levels until it is more than 1 inch thick, and it can often be remedied through aeration, which is less damaging to healthy turf in the process.

Chinch Bugs

These tiny bugs are notorious for causing yellow or brown patches in sunny areas of the lawn. They feed on grass blades and inject toxins that kill the plant. Chinch bugs will damage lawns, usually beginning from the edge near a sidewalk or driveway and spreading their damage across the lawn in expanding fashion. They thrive in the hot, dry months, and they would need to be removed or eradicated before repairing the lawn as multiple generations populate the lawn in a season and can resume damaging a lawn once new food sources arrive.

Chinch bugs are more common in warm season turf, but they can affect cool season grasses too.

Chinch bugs are small and can be hard to see. There are a few tests that allow for better visual identification, including placing a piece of white paper near the edge of the damaged area and retreating to allow the bugs to begin actively moving again. Another way to test for chinch bugs is the float test as seen here.

Natural Solutions:

• Encourage Predators: Birds, spiders and ladybugs all eat chinch bugs. Attract them by planting native flowers or providing birdhouses.
• Diatomaceous Earth: Sprinkle this natural powder around affected areas. It is harmless to humans and pets but lethal to chinch bugs and other soft-bodied pests. It would need to be reapplied after every watering or rain. Diatomaceous earth dries out small insects, and it becomes ineffective once moisture is introduced.
• Dish detergent: Dish detergent found in the kitchen can also help slow chinch bugs. The detergent removes the insects’ waxy coating, causing the chinch bug to dehydrate.
• Water Your Lawn Properly: Chinch bugs thrive in dry, stressed lawns. Deep, infrequent watering keeps your grass strong and less appealing to them. Since zoysia lawns spread through rhizomes, the lawn can repair itself once the chinch bugs are removed and the lawn is properly watered and fed, especially if the infestation is caught quickly.

Armyworms

Armyworms are caterpillars that chew through grass blades, leaving ragged patches behind. They are the larvae of moths, and it is during this larval stage that they prove damaging, particularly in late summer and early fall. They were so dubbed because they can quickly “march” across a lawn, leaving a complete area of devastation in their wake, sometimes in just a matter of days. Recognizing their presence and treating them early can be critical in saving the lawn.

Natural Solutions:

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): This naturally occurring bacteria targets caterpillars but is safe for other insects, humans and pets. Apply it as a spray in the evening when armyworms are active.
• Soap and Water Spray: Mix a few drops of dish soap with water and spray directly on armyworms. It disrupts their outer coating and kills them naturally. Adding neem oil to the application can boost the effectiveness.
• Natural predators: Armyworms are naturally targeted by several species of wasps, which may hinder armyworms before a full infestation occurs.
• Keep Grass Mowed: Reduce the height of the mower slightly, but remaining careful not to go too short. Shorter grass makes it harder for armyworms to hide and easier for predators like birds to find them. However, shorter grass can also be more prone to drought stress and open space for weeds.

Sod Webworms

These small, night-flying moths lay eggs in your lawn. The larvae (webworms) feed on grass blades, leaving irregular patches of damage, and more often found in cool season grasses. The damage will begin small and ragged, but left untreated it will begin to grow and damaged areas join into large patches.

Targeting treatment in spring, especially after seeing the parent moths fluttering around the yard, can help diminish the webworms during their early larva stage and before damage becomes substantial.

Natural Solutions:

• Nematodes Again: Beneficial nematodes aren’t just for grubs—they’re also great at tackling sod webworms.
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Again: This naturally occurring bacteria targets these larva caterpillars too.
• Keep the Lawn Healthy: A robust lawn can recover quickly from webworm damage. Overseed thin areas to crowd out pests and repair damage.
• Water at the Right Time: Morning watering can dislodge webworms and make your lawn less inviting.

Mole Crickets

Mole crickets tunnel underground, damaging roots and creating unsightly mounds and ridges on your lawn.

Natural Solutions:

• Soap Flush Test: Mix a few tablespoons of dish soap in a gallon of water and pour it over suspected areas. Mole crickets will come to the surface, where you can remove them manually.
• Predatory Nematodes: Yes, nematodes strike again! They are an excellent, natural option for mole crickets.
• Aerate the Lawn: Aeration disrupts mole cricket tunnels and makes the soil less hospitable.

Ants

While ants are often harmless, some species (like fire ants) can pose a danger to people and pets. Their mounds can also damage the lawn’s appearance.

Natural Solutions:

• Boiling Water: Pour boiling water directly into ant mounds. It is simple, effective and chemical-free … although it may damage foliage in the area that is also touched by the boiling water.
• Cinnamon or Cayenne Pepper: Sprinkle these natural repellents around mounds to drive ants away.
• Attract Birds: Birds eat ants, so encouraging them with feeders or water features can help keep ant populations in check.

Cutworms

Cutworms are caterpillars that cut down young grass and seedlings at the base, often causing circular patches of dead grass.

Natural Solutions:

• Cardboard Collars: Place collars around new grass or garden seedlings to block cutworms from reaching their food.
• Predatory Wasps: These tiny wasps lay their eggs in cutworms, killing them naturally. Attract them by planting flowering herbs like dill and cilantro.
• Turn the Soil: In garden areas, till the soil to expose cutworms to birds and other predators.

Moles

While not insects, moles can cause significant damage to lawns with their tunnels and mounds. They are usually after grubs and earthworms, but their digging harms grass roots.

Natural Solutions:

• Castor Oil Spray: Mix castor oil with water and a few drops of dish soap, then spray it over mole activity areas. Moles hate the smell and will move elsewhere. Spraying castor oil in expanding circles can drive them from the lawn, but the moles will return once the product dissipates after a few weeks.
• Remove Food Sources: By controlling grubs and other pests, you make your lawn less appealing to moles.
• Plant Mole-Repelling Plants: Plants like daffodils and marigolds can naturally deter moles.

Voles

Seeing lawn damage can often leave homeowners puzzled whether it is mole or vole damage. Both unwanted critters use tunnels, however voles do not tunnel as deep and are usually identified by the small holes in their tunnel system for them to come above ground. Moles do not surface and remain underground, while voles will surface to forage for vegetation to eat and their tunnels can be identified here.

Natural Solutions:

• Repellants: Planting garlic may repel voles and other similar animals and pests. Is a common lawn pest control method. There are also repellant sprays, often consisting of coyote urine, that can be applied to drive the unwanted lawn guests away. Cayenne pepper near the trails and burrow holes may also deter their stay.

The best lawn pest control is the creation of an environment where they don’t want to stick around. Here are some general practices to keep your lawn healthy and pest-free:

1. Maintain a Healthy Lawn

• Mow your grass to the recommended height for your grass type. Taller grass shades the soil and discourages many pests.
• Water deeply and infrequently to promote deep root growth, which makes your grass more resilient to pest damage.

2. Improve Soil Health

• Regularly aerate and add organic matter like compost to your lawn. Healthy soil supports stronger grass, which outcompetes pests.
• Test your soil pH and nutrients to ensure optimal growing conditions.

3. Encourage Biodiversity

• Attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and predatory wasps to naturally control pests.
• Create a balanced ecosystem by planting native flowers and shrubs to support pollinators and pest-eating birds.

4. Rotate Pest Control Methods

Pests can adapt to the same treatments over time. Rotate different natural solutions to keep them guessing and your lawn thriving.

For those who want a ready-made solution, many organic lawn pest control products are available. Look for options labeled as safe for children, pets and pollinators. Always follow the instructions carefully to avoid harming beneficial organisms. Dealing with lawn pests doesn’t have to mean compromising a commitment to sustainability or safety. By understanding pests and using safe, natural methods, a beautiful lawn that’s healthy, resilient, and free from harmful chemicals