In addition to mowing and seeding, your lawn care routine should include inspecting for pest infestations. Pests can destroy your plants and damage your curb appeal. However, damage commonly goes unnoticed until its significant. If you’re not sure how to inspect your lawn, here are a few signs to look out for.

A Quick Guide to Lawn Pests

1. Holes & Mounds

Moles are small mammals that live underground and eat larvae, bugs, and worms. These dirt-dwellers create dens underneath solid structures such as sidewalks, trees, or garden sheds, and leave behind small mounds of dirt or occasional tunnel holes. Look for small holes on your lawn and keep an eye out if your dog starts to dig at the dens.  

2. Leaves with Holes 

Japanese beetles are about half an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide and come out of the ground during the start of summer. These insects live only 40 days but spend that time eating plant and grass roots or feeding on leaves. They will often eat leaves until they look like spider webs; they don’t ingest the veins. While performing your lawn care look for small white larvae lying in the grass or for plant leaves that have been eaten through.

3. Birds

Crows, magpies, and jays will feast on yards that are infested with chafer grubs, so look out for their presence, especially if you see a lot of them. These small worm-like creatures live underground eating greenery roots and can decimate lawns if local bird populations don’t eat them first.

If you notice pests during your lawn care routine, contact A Kick in the Grass Lawn Service in St. Louis County, MO. Their Ellisville team has over 14 years of experience with landscaping, including fertilization, seeding, and aeration, as well as cleaning gutters, removing pests, and building retaining walls. Call (314) 471-6186 or visit the website to learn more about their lawn care services.