Ask the Experts: Landscape Q&A
One of the benefits to owning and operating the Westfield Group Country Club, Westfield Inn and other campus facilities, is the ability to learn from years of experience, and share Westfield facility experts’ advice with others.
Earlier this year, Westfield’s home office hosted the 2012 Lawn and Landscape Show, which offered employees an opportunity to meet with local participating vendors and our resident experts to discuss lawn care, landscape maintenance, equipment, and more.
The following post is the first in a series featuring the questions addressed by Westfield grounds keepers about caring for your lawn and general landscaping tips. The main topic covered in today’s post is how to get rid of yard pests: ants, beetles and moles. Be sure to stay tuned for more lawn care topics including fertilizers and weeds, planting and trimming, erosion, flooding and water damage.
How to Get Rid of Yard Pests: Ants, Beetles, Moles
Ants
Q. Last year I had a problem with anthills in my back yard. They started off small, so I just mowed over them. Then they grew bigger, killing more of the grass and leaving patches in the lawn. I reseeded, but the grass didn't come back as well as I expected. What can I do to prevent the same problem from happening this year?
A. This may be a problem for your lawn service company to address. They will know how to correctly apply a product to control the ants. If you’d prefer to handle this yourself, contact your local garden center to inquire about controls for you to apply to the lawn. Make sure to follow the directions on the control product closely. After the ants are controlled, you will have to renovate the area then reseed with your favorite turf seed.
Beetles
Q. What is the best way to keep beetles away from rose bushes? I have tried traps, which seem to attract the beetles more, as well as several dusts, that haven't worked. Is there a more organic way to keep them away that actually works?
A. One product I’ve used to combat that problem is All-In-One Rose and Flower Care by Bayer, which is readily available at garden centers. It combines a fertilizer, fungicide and systemic insecticide. The insecticide is taken up by the plant and kills the pest once plant material is ingested. Starting in the spring, All-In-One is applied as a drench every 6-8 weeks. Make sure you follow the directions on the label when applying.
Another approach is to treat your lawn for grubs. Yes, Japanese beetles are actually adult versions of the larvae, or grub, that hides over winter in the ground. Check out “Stop Japanese Beetles,” a helpful article from Better Homes and Garden, which covers a variety of approaches to battling these beetles and grubs.
Moles
Q. We have a bad case of, what I'm assuming is, moles in our yard. What is the best way to get rid of them without using poison?
A. One option I've had success with in the past is to use mole traps, which you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe's. Place the traps over the tunnels in your lawn and you may catch a few.
Q. After winter, our lawn is covered with mounds of dirt where I assume moles were digging. Is there any way to prevent moles from attacking the yard during winter months? We cannot use chemicals on our lawn, as we have a lake that gets run off water from our lawn and our lake is our drinking source.
A. With the mild winter, the moles have been very active. While traps are a good solution for fixing an existing mole problem, they will not prevent the infestation from happening. Look for organic mole repellents that specifically indicate being pet-friendly, environmental-friendly, etc. I would also recommend visiting the MoleMan website. He offers a variety of tips for different situations.
Do you have any questions related to animal or pest control for your lawn? Feel free to post your questions below, and our experts will be happy to answer them!
