Learn how to watch out for winter lawn pests like grubs, ticks, deer, and chinch bugs.
While many plants and animals go dormant during the winter, you may forget about pests. While you may not notice pests as often as you do in the summer, many may be holed up in your lawn riding out the cold winter. If your landscape has structures like rocks, lawn ornaments, foundations, or many leaf piles, layers of mulch, thatch, tall grass, or wood piles, pests may be drawn to wintering in your lawn. Some common winter lawn pests may be found in your landscape this season. Scientific Plant Service has experience tackling these pests and can help find and address any infestations.
Grubs
Deep under the soil, pests patiently wait to resurface in the spring to eat, transform into beetles, and eat some more. Grubs not only cause damage by feeding on grassroots but also attract other pests like moles and skunks looking to feast on grubs. Grub control takes careful planning but can be tackled with the help of experienced lawn care professionals.
Fleas and Ticks
While fleas and ticks are most known for causing trouble in the warmer months, they can survive the cold by staying among brush and leaves. Fleas and ticks can still do damage if they find their way inside your home, either on a pet or not. Continue to be vigilant about pet flea and tick prevention, and check your pets and family members before they come inside if they have been outside for extended periods.
Chinch Bugs
Chinch bugs are lawn pests that are tough enough to survive the winter. After they suck the juice out of grass and inject it with an obstructive substance, the plant withers and dies as the bugs grow and prosper. They spend winter hiding in thatch and dead trees or huddled around the foundation of buildings and homes. Remove any thatch and keep your lawn healthy and hydrated throughout the year to help keep them away.
Keep Deer Off Your Property
Deer remain a type of winter pest you must continue to keep off your property. As food grows scarce in winter, deer browse your gardens and evergreen trees to see what they can eat. Keeping deer away from your lawn is essential so they do not eat your vegetation, strip bark off the trees, and do not transmit ticks onto your property. Scientific Plant Service offers year-round deer repellent services to prevent extensive damage from these pests.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.