Overwatering and Mosquitoes: What You Need to Know

a close-up of a mosquito outside

You need to water your lawn on a regular basis to keep your yard lush and green – but how much is too much? You don’t want to get dry patches from watering too little, though at the same time overwatering brings about its own problems. Excessive moisture in your yard can cause lawn diseases and attract pests like mosquitos. Read on to learn what you can do to prevent mosquitoes and enjoy your yard even more.

Mosquitoes and Moisture

Your lawn needs water, and so do mosquitos. These pests need high levels of moisture in order to live and reproduce. So if your yard has an excess of standing water, it can quickly turn into a breeding ground. Oversaturated lawns can form a thick layer of thatch that will protect mosquitos and other insects from predators and even certain pesticides. You don’t want to get to that point, so it’s important to properly maintain and irrigate for a healthier lawn you can use without being bothered by bugs. 

Am I Overwatering My Lawn?

How can you tell if you’re overwatering your lawn? Too much water in your yard can stunt root growth and make your grass more vulnerable to fungus and disease, but it might not be apparent until the damage is already done. Luckily there are warning signs you can look for to know if you’re watering to excess.

Squishy Soil 

There’s something called a “step test” that is a great way to tell if your lawn is oversaturated. It’s easy – all you need to do is step on your lawn in multiple places that haven’t recently been watered. If the soil feels squishy or soggy under your feet then it’s a good sign that you’ve watering too much.

Weeds and Fungus

You may have noticed that properly watered yards aren’t full of mushrooms and weeds. That’s because they need water to grow and thrive. If you notice this kind of foreign growth sprouting in your yard it may mean you need to water less. It’s also smart to remove these kinds of growth as you find them, as they can attract insects and potentially cause illness if consumed by children or animals.  

Runoff

You may not know this, but it’s possible for your soil to be completely saturated. That means it will no longer absorb additional water, resulting in a trail of runoff that strips the lawn of important nutrients. This leaves your yard vulnerable to certain diseases, as well as insects and fungi growth.

Can I Prevent Mosquitoes?

The easiest thing you can do to prevent the growth of mosquitos is to make sure that you aren’t overwatering your yard. Even if you live in an arid climate you may not need to water on a daily basis. The general consensus is that your lawn needs around 1-1.5 inches of water per week, which roughly equates to three days of irrigation for around thirty minutes a day.

Mosquito Control in St. Louis

Mosquitoes, whether they’re after an overwatered lawn or another source of standing water, can be a nuisance to any homeowner. You should be able to enjoy your lawn without a swarm of stinging instincts getting in the way, and with Blue Chip Pest Services, we can make that happen. Our team is expertly trained, and we go above and beyond to provide innovative and customized pest control solutions for homes and businesses throughout the St. Louis area. Contact Blue Chip Pest Services today and increase your enjoyment of your outdoor space.

Tips For a Pest-Free Lawn This Summer

Maintaining a green, healthy lawn can be difficult when you have lawn insects actively trying to feed on your grass! Lawn pests are often the culprits behind dying grass and unhealthy lawn growth. Unfortunately, we deal with a number of lawn pests here in the St. Louis MO area. At Blue Chip Pest Services, our lawn care experts are committed to helping our customers achieve the lawn of their dreams without the worry of lawn insects. Read on to learn our top tips for a pest-free lawn this summer!

Common Lawn Pests in Missouri

Lawn insects most commonly live beneath the surface of your grass, which is why it’s hard to know their presence until you notice lawn damage. The most common lawn insects include:

  • Chinch bugs attack your lawn by sucking the liquid out of grass blades. In doing so, patches of grass on your lawn will dehydrate, turn yellow, then brown and die.
  • Mole crickets feed on and chew through the grassroots, causing your grass to die off. When dealing with mole crickets, your grass will feel spongy when stepped on and be covered with brown patches.
  • Grubs are beetle larvae that remain dormant through the winter. In the spring, they make their way toward the surface to feed on grass roots.
  • Sod webworms chew through small areas of grass. They create tunnels out of their silky web that will run under the grass. Signs to look for include raggedly-chewed grass and smaller brown spots- around the size of a baseball.
  • Armyworms are small caterpillars that grow into moths. The females lay up to a thousand eggs at once in patches of fresh grass. These can hatch as quickly as 2 days. To spot these guys, you’ll want to look on the outside of dead or damaged grass areas.

How to Keep a Pest-Free Lawn

Once you have a lawn insect problem, it can be hard to get rid of them and save the health of your lawn. For that reason, prevention is the key to lawn pest control. Pests are attracted to unhealthy conditions, making it crucial to maintain your lawn and yard to the best of your ability. To keep lawn insects away, follow these tips:

  1. Learn how to properly mow your lawn. Long grass that is never cut will attract all types of pests and weeds. Mowing your lawn in a timely manner will deprive lawn insects of food and shelter.
  2. Don’t over- or under-water your lawn. Pests of all kinds love moisture. If your lawn is soggy from overwatering, you are sure to create a haven for lawn pests. Learn how to properly irrigate your lawn depending on the season.
  3. Pull out weeds on a regular basis. Wild, unkempt weeds attract a number of insects and pests. Weeds also negatively affect the health of your grass, leading to a number of diseases and problems.
  4. Fertilize your lawn as needed. Similar to your irrigation system, failing to fertilize your lawn correctly can lead to a plethora of problems. A lawn made unhealthy due to over-fertilization can contribute to pest problems.

Pest-Free Lawns All Year Long

At Blue Chip Pest Services, we know how important it is to keep your lawn in good shape. If you are struggling with lawn insects this summer, give our experts a call. We will help you say goodbye to lawn insect problems for good!