Another huge issue we face in the summer, particularly August, are insects that damage grass both above and below the ground. I highly recommend you treat for them now to avoid problems in the future.

Grub Worms

The main insect that attacks lawns across the United States during the summer is the grub worm. Grubs are the larvae of the Japanese Beetle or Junebug. They are hatched in July and feed on grass roots during August and into November. They can devastate lawns, especially if their numbers get out of hand.

If you are going to treat for grub worms, make sure you get a product that contains the ingredient “Merit.” This will give you long lasting control through the summer and into the fall.

Sod Web Worms

Sod web worms are surface feeding insects that can cause some browning in lawns during the summer, especially in the Midwest. You know you have a sod webworm infestation if you see moths flying up and out of the grass when you walk on it. These are the adults, and they don’t do any damage, but their larvae do.

Bill Bugs

I have not seen much activity with billbugs in my area until this year. These guys start feeding on the surface and then burrow through grass crowns and begin feeding underground, very much like Japanese Beetle grub worms. If you have bill bugs, you need to apply an immediate-acting insecticide like Dylox.

All of these guys can cause brown spots in the lawn in August, so be sure to apply a general surface insecticide now, as well as a Merit-based grub preventative. If you do that, you should be fine!

August is fully underway and believe it or not, it one of the most important months of the lawn care season! In fact, you can make or break your lawn’s appearance depending on what you do, or don’t do during this pivotal time period.

Why Is August So Important?

The month of August is stressful on your lawn. We have a lot going on during this time including heat, lack of rain, insect infestation (both above and below ground) and fungus issues. All of these are attacking your turf and giving it the one-two-three punch. In addition, there are a host of summer weeds that creep in during the summer and some of them can literally thin out your lawn.

What To Do For Your Lawn In August

There are several primary tasks you need to accomplish during the month, so many in fact that I need to break them down into a series of articles. However, there are some basics that will set the foundation and those are:

Mow Tall – I say it all the time, but in August it is more important than ever. The heat that beats down on the lawn will dry it out quickly, even if you water. If you keep the lawn tall, it will shade the root system and keep a lot of the moisture in.

Irrigate Regularly – I want your lawn to stay green and that means you need to water. I only need you to water the lawn 2 or 3 times per week for an hour in each zone. That won’t run up your water bill too much but will keep the lawn growing properly.

If you set this foundation in August, then the rest is pretty simple. There is a lot to get accomplished, but most of it can be done this weekend. Follow along in the next article and see what else you need to do for your lawn in August.