Don't let your beautiful lawn be overtaken by pests and other culprits. Learn how to identify common lawn pests and prevent future problems with these budget-friendly tips.

The Problem: Dry grass with minimal coverage
The Solution: Plant right
The first step to keeping your lawn looking great is to make sure you plant the right type of grass for your geographic area. Avoid the use of high-maintenance varieties that require extensive watering or weeding; instead, contact your local nursery or the agricultural extension center in your area to discover the most hardy and pest-resistant options. Not only will it save time and money, but using local varieties is environmentally friendly and looks better in the long run. Use plugs or seed to fill in bare areas to create a uniform, low-maintenance lawn.

The Problem: Yellow spots
The Solution: Planning, preparation and prevention
If you have pets, chances are those yellow spots are not caused by bugs or disease, but rather by your four-legged friend. Dogs tend to inadvertently damage lawns due to their natural chemistry. Plain and simple, the nitrogen concentration contained in urine can result in lawn-burn, or dead patches of grass. If you are a pet lover, try walking your dog a few times a day to reduce exposure or make certain areas of the yard off-limits. Reducing the amount of fertilizer used on the lawn also helps limit lawn damage due to pets. When all else fails, use a sprinkler to dissipate the concentration of nitrogen along with gypsum or lime to help minimize the damage associated with dog spots.

The Problem: Spots, snow mold, rust and other forms of blight
The Solution: Fungicides, water control and proper aeration
Blights and other unsightly lawn problems can be challenging to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Two of the more common problems are blight and rust:

• Blight: There are multiple types of blight, but generally, blight is identified by donut-shaped or crescent patterns of dead or dying grass surrounding green grass.
• Rust: This fungus appears as red-orange spots on grass blades.

Fungicides are powerful chemicals capable of eliminating the disease-causing agents in your lawn — but they can also destroy beneficial organisms that help fight other problems. Always make sure you know the right fungicide for your needs.

The three main types are contact fungicides that remain on the surface of the plant, systemic fungicides that move through the circulation system of the plant and penetrating fungicides that prevent the growth of pathogens later. By maintaining a healthy lawn, watering at the right time of day and never overwatering, it is often possible to naturally restore your lawn without the use of harsh fungicides. Remember, use fungicides sparingly to preserve the natural ecosystem of your yard.

The Problem: Grubs, slugs and common yard insects
The Solution: Chemical control and gentle prevention methods
Grubs, slugs, fire ants and mole crickets are just a few of the pests likely to invade your beautiful lawn each spring. White grubs alone are responsible for millions of dollars in damage, while fire ants can inflict painful bites and even trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Here’s how to identify common pests:

• Grubs: Grubs live and feed just under the grass, leaving large brown patches and soft spots. Peeling back a bit of lawn will reveal the white, C-shaped critters.
• Slugs: Hunt slugs at night, as they often avoid the hot daytime. Slugs leave a shiny trail wherever they travel.
• Fire Ants: Fire ants look similar to common ants, but are more aggressive. Fire-ant nests are big, generally a foot or more in diameter and height.

Chemical control of pests is often necessary once extensive damage has taken place or in the case of biting insects like fire ants. However, in the early stages of development, it is often preferable to use biological or other alternative methods of controlling unwanted pests, including these easy-to-use and environmentally friendly options:

• White Grubs: Purchase parasitic nematodes instead of harsh chemicals to keep white grubs under control.
• Mole Crickets: Use a gentle soap flush to eradicate mole crickets. Simply mix a few tablespoons of liquid detergent into warm water and pour over infected areas.
• Chinch Bugs: Avoid overwatering and use resistant seed species like rye to deter chinch bugs from moving in.
• Armyworms: Found throughout the nation, armyworms spawn two generations each year. Use a soap solution in June and again in early August.
• Slugs: The occasional slug or snail can simply be picked up and removed, but often the best long-term course of action is the strategic use of their natural enemies: toads, turtles, birds and even chickens love slugs.