$0.00

Cart

Secure checkout
0

Army worms are on the march

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Ashlee Hall

With the weather being a little wet and warm recently, army worms have been marching across lawns in South-East Queensland and causing havoc – but how do you know you have them, and how do you treat the attack?

Picture Courtesy of Lawn Solutions Australia

To try and help you out a little, keep reading about some tips and tricks to get your lawn back looking its best and free of army worm activity – and give Rosemount Turf a call on (07) 5448 6398 if you need some extra assistance!

What are army worms?

Army worms, sometimes called ‘lawn grubs’ are a common caterpillar pest that get into lawns and crops. They feed on leaves or roots, depending on the conditions.

What are the signs that you have army warms in your lawn?

The following are symptoms that you have army worms in your turf:

  • Your lawn can no longer take in the moisture and nutrients it needs.
  • Your grass is dry and straw-like, similar to drought conditions.
  • Brown patches that gradually spread out.
  • More birds are taking an interest in your lawn – they love army worms as a tasty snack!
  • Spongey feel to your lawn.
  • At its worst, your lawn will actually ‘peel off’ the soil as all roots have been eaten

When peeling back your lawn, you will likely see army worm larvae that are feeding on any lawn roots that are left.

You have to be particularly vigilant when the weather starts getting warmer, usually between around September to March, as this is when army worms are more likely to make an appearance. The lawn types that are most likely to be hit are Kikuyu and Couch, with Buffalo being less likely.

How do you figure out if you have an army worm problem?

There are two tests you can do to see if you have army worms:

  1. First Test: Lay a wet towel or piece of carpet on a section of your lawn overnight. In the morning, lift it up and see if anything has come to the surface underneath it. A hessian bag works well too.
  2. Second Test: Mix up a bucket of soapy water and pour it over the edge of one of the affected areas of lawn. Wait around 10 mins or so and, if you have army worms, they should start popping to the surface.

How do you treat army worms?

When it comes to treatment, starting ASAP is crucial due to the sheer mass of eggs that army worms lay and the rate at which they feed. Lawn providers like Rosemount Turf can help with what insecticide to use and advice in utilising it, as each choice has different application requirements.

Because lawn grubs bury themselves in the soil during the day and come out to feed at night the most effective time to apply insecticides is as late in the day as possible while the adults are active.

If you are completing army worm treatment during dry weather, ensure you water any insecticides into your lawn or, if it is raining, apply during the rainfall. Always remember to do another treatment two weeks following the first, as army worm eggs can take 2-5 weeks to hatch. A secondary treatment will ensure any missed worms or eggs are removed.

How do you prevent army worms?

Army worm attacks are tricky, as they can happen at various times of year and more than once in any given time. There are various products that may assist, so we recommend speaking to a turf specialist and they can assist further.

If you’d like any further assistance, give Rosemount Turf a call on (07) 5448 6398 and we would be happy to assist.

Resources:

Lawn Solutions Australia
How to Treat Grub Lawn Attacks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Questions?

Call us now on 07 5448 6398 or fill out the form below and we will get in contact with you.
Global Contact Form
Subscribe to the Rosemount Turf newsletter
You can sign up in the newsletter form below to receive the latest news and updates on all things Turf.
Newsletter Form (#1)
Non Contact Delivery

An important note to all our Rosemount Turf customers and followers:

We understand that COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is having a significant impact on all Australians and that it is a difficult and unprecedented time at the moment. We wanted to assure you that health and safety are the top priorities for Rosemount Turf management and staff. There are certain measures that we have put in place to ensure that our customers and employees are safe. We are being vigilant with our office and ensuring all surfaces are sterilised and cleaned regularly.

We would like to remind you that orders can be made online or over the phone and paid for via credit card, so no cash handling is needed. We can arrange delivery and the placement of your turf over the phone with our administration staff when you purchase. You don't need to be home when it is delivered.

If you have any further questions regarding any of our safety policies that we have in place during this time, or would like to discuss some new turf, give us a call on (07) 5448 6398.

Rosemount turf along with Lawn Solutions Australia is reaffirming our commitment to consumers with our ability to produce and deliver high quality turf products to consumers. No contact is required during the ordering or delivering process.

info@rosemountturf.com.au07 5448 6398
Web Design and Marketing by
EnvisionWorks Logo
menu-circlecross-circle linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram