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How to Kill Lawn Grubs

Those ugly, white lawn grubs can destroy your lawn.  These are actually the larvae of numerous types of beetles, though the most common is the grub that produces the Japanese beetle.  You can tell that you may have a serious infestation when you happen to see the grubs in the lawn; then try to pull the grass up in the same area where you see the grub(s).  Grubs eat the roots of your grass and if you have a significant infestation you will be able to pull the grass back from the soil easily and should be able to easily see and count the number of grubs within a specific area. You really shouldn’t worry or treat your lawn unless you can confirm that there are 8-10 grubs per square foot. 

There are a number of natural ways to treat.  One such product is Milky Spore.  This product is an all natural product that will attack and eliminate the Japanese beetle grub.  Another common solution is NOCDOWN III, which is a cedar oil that, when applied, makes your lawn unattractive to a host of pests, including grubs, Japanese beetles, mosquitoes and snakes. Your local garden center or college extension service should be able to help you identify the type of grubs that inhabit your lawn. 

Your other option is to use strong chemicals and there are any numbers of these available.  The first type will kill in short order.  Most products that contain Trichlorfon, also manufactured under the brand name Dylox®, will kill grubs within 24 hours after application.  Dylox® should be applied in late August to early September when the grubs normally start to hatch.  This can be used when you first notice the infestation.  If you are aware of an infestation the year before, you can almost be guaranteed an infestation the following year.  If you did not treat in late summer or the early fall, you may want to be proactive and treat with Imidacloprid in early to late spring.  This chemical takes time to build up in the soil and is effective prior to the hatching stage of the larvae.   

Your choice on what to use is purely personal.  Natural vs. potentially dangerous Chemical.   For future prevention, you might try over-seeding with a fescue type of grass, as these seem to be more resistant to grub infestations.  Also practice moisture control.  Deep water your lawn, letting it dry out before watering again.  Those ugly little grubs love high moisture content.  It’s critical to their life cycle.  Of course, if you live in an area of the country that is very humid, then aggressive natural or chemical control may be your only option.

Lawn Sweeper for any time of the year

Any time of year, a lawn sweeper is a good thing to have. The kind you need, of course, depends on the lawn you need to sweep. Lawn sweepers come in lots of types. You can get a smallish lawn sweeper, either powered or pushed, that will handle a good sized yard. You can get good sturdy medium-duty tow lawn sweepers that you can tow behind a lawn tractor or riding mower. You can get a heavy-duty commercial lawn sweeper if you have an estate, or just enjoy a wide expanse of lawn.

The simple push lawn sweeper is inexpensive, sturdy, and practical for reasonable size areas. You can get powered or manual versions of the push sweeper. The manual push lawn sweeper will give you a little exercise, clean up the area many times faster than raking, and still be easy on the environment. Whether used as a grass sweeper or a lawn leaf sweeper, push lawn sweepers are handy to have around the property.

The tow behind lawn sweeper is a great choice for the mechanized home lawn-care person. Tow lawn sweepers come in several sizes, and can be hooked to a riding lawn mower or lawn tractor. This type of lawn sweeper pulls along at a quick pace and collects the debris into a container for disposal. You could bag those clipping or leaf sweepings, of course, but even better, you could compost them. The convenient collection devices of lawn sweepers make that a pretty simple and easy chore. The tow lawn sweeper will leave your lawn looking good and you with still some energy left to enjoy it.

When the leaves begin to fall, you'll be glad to start calling your lawn sweeper a lawn leaf sweeper for a change. Raking is hard work, though healthful and even fun, perhaps, for a while. But a lawn sweeper will beat the best raker, and delivers the leaves collected and ready to bag or compost. No more blowing them around again and again. The lawn leaf sweeper will get it done the first time around, and you can put those leaves in their place.

Anyone who's ever spent much time with a rake will appreciate a grass sweeper. It cuts down the work and does a clean job. You can opt for the tow lawn sweeper, or just an inexpensive manual push   sweeper. You can call it a grass sweeper or a lawn leaf sweeper, depending on the season. You can use a lawn sweeper in some way or other most of the year. Lawn sweepers can handle debris of various types, and leave your lawn smooth and ready to enjoy. A lawn sweeper makes mowing more effective, and easier and even safer as well.

Whatever size, big commercial lawn sweeper or small hand push sweeper, the right size and type of lawn sweeper will help you keep your place looking great.

Mulch Mat Tree Ring

You know the expression “The rubber meets the road”? Well, here’s a case where the rubber meets the trees. The recycled rubber, that is.

Made from 100% recycled rubber tire, the Perm-A-Mulch Premium Mulch Mat not only adds to your lawn environment through environmentally friendly means, it also can be a marked improvement over traditional hardwood mulch.

How do these center-cut discs make your gardening life easier? Let’s count the ways.

1. With Mulch Mats, there’s no need for weeding. Traditional mulch is great, but the space between is where you can get into trouble. Even in the most carefully weeded area, you’ll have to deal with those pesky shoots coming up in the spaces between pieces of mulch. Mulch Mats—available in either edge border or with a pre-cut tree hole—are porous enough to allow water and nutrients to get through, but not enough for weeds to rise. A simple quarter of a turn monthly is all the maintenance you should need. And you have a choice of brown or red to match your overall garden design.
2. There’s also no need for extra caution when using lawn equipment. Accidentally run your lawn mower over a bit of mulch ground—or a stray piece that ended up on your lawn—and you could set a dangerous projectile into flight. Run over your properly installed Mulch Mat and, well, you might not even notice.
3. Mulch Mats are easy to keep neat. Picking leaves or clippings out of a traditionally mulched area can be a bother. With a Mulch Mat, all you have to do is temporarily remove it from around your tree, shake it out, and replace.

While commonly used around trees (the central ring can be cut as your tree grows larger), the Perm-A-Mulch Mat can also be used to circle your mailbox or garden decorations with a weed-free zone.

And we wouldn’t be surprised if some creative duffers out there used them for impromptu putting greens.