When it comes to gardening and lawn care, autumn’s cooler weather brings much relief! Many of the pests become less active (and less destructive), and your plants don’t need as much water. But Alabama is subject to ping pong weather – one day it’s cool and crisp, the next it feels like summer again! Be sure to look out for these pest signs this fall.
Yard pest signs during the fall
You’ve worked hard over the spring and summer to bring your lawn or garden to life—don’t let your guard down just yet! While less so, autumn is still an active time for pests. Here are some of the ones you should look out for.
Stink Bugs
Like many pests, stink bugs start looking for a cozy place to lay down in the fall. This usually means in or around your home! And if you noticed these bugs last year, you’ll likely see them again this year. Stink bugs leave an invisible chemical, which alerts their friends and family where the best spots are. Their favorite plants to mess with include soft fruits, ornamentals and a wide variety of vegetables.
Snails & Slugs
As with so many things in life, prevention is the best medicine! Slugs and snails do a lot of work in the fall to prepare for the following spring, so taking care of them now will save you headaches later. They lay most of their eggs during this time to hatch and start feeding in the spring.
Look out for slimy trails and tiny bite marks between the veins of the leaves on your plants. Their primary targets will be ornamentals and ripening fruits and vegetables.
Lawns
Do you notice brown spots in your garden? It could be lawns! These pests prefer turf roots to plants, and can wreak havoc on your lawn during the fall and come spring. Mature lawn beetles (beetles) will then turn to your garden plants to continue their tirade. In addition to the brown spots, if you see animals such as birds, skunks or raccoons digging around in your lawn, they are probably looking for a dirty snack!
If you suspect lawn grass, here’s a good way to check: Go to one of the brown spots in your yard and pull on the brown grass. If it pulls off easily (which means it has no roots), start digging in that area and see if you can find lawn grass.
Boxelder Bugs
Much like the stink bugs we mentioned earlier, box bugs start to seek shelter this time of year. These pests can number in the hundreds, so if you see one, it’s best to take care of it as soon as possible. Fortunately, the red markings on their wings make them quite easy to spot. They target boxwood, maple and ash trees.
Keep your autumn pest free
While many pests wind up and disappear once the cooler hits again, many of them only become more destructive! Keep your lawn and garden healthy and beautiful this fall with professional pest services from Vulcan Termite. Get in touch with us today to start!