Inspecting your Grass for Insects

• 1
  Dead patches of grass is a good indication of grub infestation.dead grass image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com
  
  Inspect your lawn for yellowish to brownish patches in widespread areas and also for dead patches of grass which usually occur in sunlit areas of your lawn. This can be caused by insects such as grubs and chinch bugs (heat loving insects) which live in the soil. Digging up and rolling back sections of these patches can reveal the fat white grubs that live on the roots of your grass.
  
  
• 2
  Control weeds by removing them when they are small.field of dried weeds in summer image by Sherri Camp from Fotolia.com
  
  Check your lawn for weeds that compete with the grass for water, space and light. If grass is mowed too low, the weeds will have an advantage and become more than a visual nuisance. A thick and vigorous lawn will deter weeds.
  
  
• 3
  Cobwebby growth on grass can be a sign of fungal disease.cobweb image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
  
  Diseased spots of grass are light tan or straw-colored and a fine, cobwebby, threadlike growth can be seen covering the spots in the early morning when dew is present. This is an indication of a fungal disease. If the blades of grass have red or orange bumps and the plant has a yellowish to reddish-orange appearance and a red-orange dust fills the air and collects on your shoes when grass is mowed, you can have a problem with rust, another fungal disease.
  
  
• 4
  Moss can quickly take over the lawn if not controlled.moss image by daki from Fotolia.com
  
  Inspect the lawn for moss, which can creep and smother the grass. This is usually found in soils with a low pH or in grass that is receiving insufficient sunlight. Good soil drainage and planting shade-tolerant grasses would help with this problem.
  
  
• 5
  Moles cause problems above and below ground.taupini?¡§res image by Claudio Calcagno from Fotolia.com
  
  Irregular raised burrows of dying grass that resemble tiny volcanoes across your lawn are a sign of moles that attack the roots of the plants. Their tunnels are also used by mice that also feed on the roots of the grass. Moles are efficient miners and can cause extensive damage underground with their tunneling.