These days we hear a lot about the importance of keeping up our immune systems. Staying healthy has been of key importance to many families lately in the interest of protecting themselves from Covid. Our lawns are like our bodies. Given the proper care and nutrients, a strong healthy lawn will be better able to resist an attack of army worms. Many of the things our bodies need, such as proper air, water, and nutrition is also what our lawns need.
1) Aerate your lawn once a year. And while you are at it, add about a quarter inch of peat moss to help decrease thatch build up. Thatch is the organic buildup in the cross section between the soil and the grassroots. Army worms can be harbored in the thatch.
2) Properly Hydrate your lawn. A lawn that is watered regularly will stay cooler at the surface. This is to your benefit as army worms prefer a dry warm environment.
3) Be sure your lawn has the nutrition it needs. A regularly fertilized lawn will be stronger and better able to handle stress and more likely to hold up to attacks.
4) Keep your lawn trimmed, but not too much. Keeping your lawn at approximately 2 inches will shade the soil, once again allowing for a cooler surface, making the environment less ideal for the army worm. Having a weed free lawn will also help decrease army worm growth, as they prefer certain weeds to feed on.
5) Once you spot an army worm infestation be sure to handle it quickly. The faster you are at identifying the infestation, the easier they are to treat.
While even the nicest lawn may be hurt by a large scale army worm attack, these tips and tricks will give you the best success at having a healthy and attractive lawn for years to come