How to Control Common Lawn Pests in Atlanta

Summer is one of the best times to have a lush, green lawn, but it also takes some vigilance to keep it that way. These common Atlanta lawn pests can harm your lawn and even your family, so learn what to look for, how to prevent them, and what to do if any of these culprits make an uninvited appearance this summer.

Common Atlanta Lawn Pests

Our hot, humid summers make Atlanta lawns a destination for all sorts of creepy-crawlies, but these are some of the usual suspects that you should always keep an eye on. It’s easy to let lawn pests get out of control, so if you see any of these, give us a call! At Simply Green, we love helping Atlanta homeowners keep their lawns looking great with our residential lawn care services.

Fire Ants

If you’ve ever stepped in a fire ant nest, you no doubt learned exactly how they got their name. The burning pain of a fire ant bite is bad enough, and getting a bunch at one time is legitimately awful. Even if you’re not allergic (allergic reactions to fire ant bites can kill), the bites will take days to go away completely, and often leave victims with painful blisters in the meantime. If you have kids or pets running around your yard, it’s even more important to get rid of fire ants in your yard. 

Of course, it’s not just bites that you need to worry about with fire ants. Even if you don’t do a lot of walking around barefoot in your yard, you’ll want to evict this invasive ant species quickly to avoid damage to your lawn. Fire ants build huge colonies, and they will destroy grass roots to do so. This can lead to large dead patches in your lawn, not to mention the unsightly mounds rising out of the grass. 

Fire ant nests can spring up in your lawn, compost pile, veggie garden, flower beds, mulch, and even in the structure of your home or outdoor shed. If you see fire ants in your yard, give us a call at 770-923-0387 to arrange a fire ant control treatment ASAP. 

Mole Crickets

Another common Atlanta lawn pest is the dreaded mole cricket. These burrowing crickets cause more than $20 million in commercial, recreational, and residential sod damage each year. We have three species here in Georgia, and they’re all incredibly destructive. The older and bigger they get, the more damage they do to grass roots, so like most problems, it’s important to catch it early. If you notice spots of disturbed earth and torn up grass, or holes that tunnel into the ground, mole crickets are afoot. Fortunately, our fire ant treatment also controls mole crickets for four months, nuisance ants for three months, and fleas and ticks for one month. 

Army Worms and Grub Worms

If you’re noticing brown, splotchy areas in your yard, you could have Army worms or grub worms. Army worms are thick and are sometimes mistaken for caterpillars, but unlike caterpillars, they can ruin your nice green lawn very quickly! In addition to their telltale brown spots, you can also tell if there’s an infestation if you suddenly notice a marked increase of birds hanging out on your lawn. It’s easy hunting, and they just want a hearty meal. 

Grub worms create more distinct brown circles in grass, and they pose a greater risk to your lawn because they feed on grass roots, weakening the entire root system of your yard. 

Don’t let these party-crashers ruin your enjoyment of your lawn this summer; contact us for Atlanta lawn care today!