Pests, Weeds & Problems

Plantago rugelii, or blackseed plantain as it is commonly called, is a perennial weed that is often found in turfgrass. It survives repeated mowing by growing as ground-hugging rosettes. There are...

Moles are burrowing animals that excel at ruining your perfectly landscaped lawn with their runs and mole hills. Moles tunnel below your yard to search for the grubs and earthworms that make up...

Ticks are tiny arachnids that live on the blood of mammals and birds. They are often found in grass, shrubs and small trees, and can be a great nuisance to domestic pets. Unfortunately, ticks...

Weeds are a problem in almost everyone's lawn. Getting rid of them can be as tedious and difficult as pulling out the weeds by hand. A lot of weedkillers also can kill nearby plants and other...

Powdery mildew looks like someone sprinkled flour or talcum powder on your lawn. It tends to attack Kentucky bluegrass, particularly in areas of the lawn that are wet or get very little sun. It's...

Unsightly patches of discoloration on an otherwise green lawn sometimes indicate grubs beneath the surface. Left unchecked, these half-grown beetles can eat away at your lovely lawn so voraciously...

Overseeding a lawn is common practice and can be done with some simple materials, a small amount of time and care. It is important to get rid of all weeds in the lawn before overseeding, and...

Dandelions can be the bane of your landscape because these weeds can get out of control in no time. The seeds of these yellow flowers can travel from your neighbors' houses via the wind and they...

Mold thrives in areas of grass that receive lots of water and not enough sunlight. Mold comes in many different varieties and colors. The first step to getting rid of mold in grass it to create an...

Homeowners often have to deal with crabgrass. This weed is a common one in lawns and may not be easy to get rid of once it is established. The best thing a homeowner can do is to stop crabgrass...

Clover is a small green weed, with a flower that blooms beginning in the late spring and throughout the summer. It spreads quickly and is often difficult to evict once it has settled into your...

From as early as the first century, creeping charlie has been regarded as an edible plant with several medicinal qualities. It has a nasty tendency to take over gardens, lawns, and flower beds. It...

For some, a lush green lawn is a crowning achievement. If you have a grub problem, these pesky insects can ruin a beautiful lawn by laying eggs and feeding on the roots of the grass, resulting in...

Earthworms are considered beneficial to lawns because they help decompose organic matter. Some species, however, make mounds that detract from a lawn's appearance. This can be a special problem on...

What do we do if our garden is invaded by the dreaded subterranean dwellers – gophers, moles, and armadillos? There are methods of eliminating these garden pests, such as using traps or various...

Wild garlic (Allium vineale) and wild onion (Allium canadense) are similar-looking weeds, though the former has round, hollow leaves and the latter has flat. Fortunately the treatment for...

Although bugs and insects are an essential part of our ecosystem, some of them can be harmful to plants, trees and bushes in our yards. But there is no need to use toxic insecticides to eliminate...

Pine trees are large, gorgeous, smell nice, and stay green. They also drop pine needles everywhere, all year long. Pine needles are acidic, can ruin your grass, and are dense enough to not blow...

Velvetleaf is an annual weed that grows as tall as 8 feet and can cause a great deal of damage in field crops as well as smaller vegetable and flower gardens. Because velvetleaf produces seeds...

Clover is considered a weed when it is found in lawns, though some homeowners like it for its look and ability to surpass other weeds. Clover weed should be attacked as soon as it's seen, since...

Torpedo grass is also known as panic grass. It's the bane of private gardens and public lands. It spreads quickly when left unattended, and it drives out native species of plants. It can grow in...

Kikuyu, or kakuya, grass, an aggressive perennial weed, was originally imported from Kenya around 1918 for use as a ditch cover. The grass has outlived its welcome in California, where it invades...

English Ivy is vine plant that can look beautiful but can also be very deadly to surrounding plants, trees and even the lawn. The ivy can grow at rapid rates and can seem nearly impossible to get...

While Bermuda grass remains a popular choice for athletic venues (such as a football field) because it is durable and able to withstand heat, it can be a poor choice for home lawns due to its...

Weeds are an unsightly annoyance on your lawn, and, once they've germinated, they can be difficult to remove without damaging the grass around them. Apply a pre-emergent weed control (herbicide)...

Patch Bermuda grass by over-seeding the bare patches and creating a future environment favorable to the growth of Bermuda grass. Bare patches occur on a lawn due to poor soil and environmental...

Crabgrass poses a serious problem for your lawn. It takes control and competes with your turfgrass for dominance. Though you can prevent this common issue, some of the most common solutions pose...

A zoysia lawn instills pride in many a homeowner. With its deep green blades, this beautiful turf provides a great visual appearance. Zoysia resists the effects of drought and requires minimal...

Crabgrass and dandelions are two of the most pernicious weeds in nearly every lawn across America. Controlling them can be difficult, especially when trying to keep the good grasses around them...

Its name notwithstanding, Bermuda grass actually came to the United States from Africa. It has a wiry appearance, with flat, pointy leaves and fine white strands like hair at the point where the...

Grubs live in soil and eat lawn roots. The resulting browning of the lawn occurs in late summer to early fall. This varies with the part of the country you reside, as does the best time to...

Lawn moles are about the size of a chipmunk, 6 to 8 inches long and weighing between 3 and 6 oz. They can cause considerable damage to lawns by digging tunnels and disturbing root systems. There...

Grubs are the larvae of beetles that feed on the solid root structure of your lawn. If not properly treated or controlled, grubs can ruin large areas of green space that may take years for you to...

Goose grass, also called silver crabgrass, is very pesky because it is more of a weed than actual grass. It grows much faster than regular grass, it takes away the water and soil nutrients that...

Insects can quickly take over a lawn or garden, leaving the area to feel unwelcoming. From insects that feed off the blood of humans and pets, to insects that attack lawn and garden vegetation, we...

Canadian thistle is an invasive weed common in North America that's tough to get rid of. With its prickly leaves and rapid growth, Canadian thistle can overtake a lawn, garden, or field overnight....

A grub is in the beetle family Scarabaeidae. It is shaped like a "C" and is the thick-bodied stage of a growing beetle, called the larval stage. Grubs feed on organic matter, including the roots...

Maintaining your lawn and keeping the weeds away can be a handful-a constantly dreaded task or a passionate hobby. Either way, weeds like dandelions have a tendency to come in and spoil your day....

Lawn chemicals fall into two major categories: fertilizers and pesticides. While the aim is to benefit lawns, these chemicals pose risks for humans and wildlife, especially if applied improperly....

Ringworm is a fungal infection that most commonly manifests as a circular red ring or as athlete's foot, which does not always show with the typical red ring. It is most easily spread by...

Crabgrass is actually a type of harmful weed that grows in lawns and yards. These weeds spread quickly, killing your regular grass and taking over your lawn. Bermuda grass is similar to crabgrass...

Most lawns are the perfect habitats for a variety of pests that can terrorize whatever is in the lawn as well as the actual grass itself. A wide variety of pest controls and treatments can be...

Whether you want to kill some out-of-control grass or worry that cleaning your boat in the yard might cause your lawn grass to die, there are many reasons to be concerned about the effects of...

For many people, having a well-maintained lawn is a source of joy and pride. However, there are many pesky little pests that would seek to damage a healthy lawn and erase all of that hard work. If...

Crab grass is unsightly and extraordinarily difficult to remove once it has taken hold in your lawn. The only way to remove crab grass from your lawn without risking damage to the desirable grass...

After spending so much time and effort watering, mowing, and fertilizing your lawn, do you really want to let those pesky grubs destroy all your hard work? This article will explain how to get rid...

Knowing when to apply grub treatment is an important factor in the treatment itself. Applying treatment to your Iowa lawn at the proper time of year will give you the best chance for killing a...

Almost without fail, anyone with a lawn eventually faces an insect problem. Some insects do substantial damage to lawns. Meanwhile, many insects are pests that attack or infest humans and pets....

Creeping charlie is a common weed that gets its name from the manner in which it spreads though your lawn. It sends out runners that attach to the ground and grow new roots. Because of this...

Grass or lawn fungus appears when temperatures are hot and the ground is too wet. Heavy rain during the summer months over-saturates the soil, providing fungus with the ideal conditions to grow...