Lawn pests of all kinds can invade nearly any turf and cause extensive harm. This applies especially in certain climates, seasons or under turf-stress conditions. However, an invasion can be either prevented or remedied if you're careful. 

Common Pests and How to Stop Them

Some types of insects are region-specific, but common invaders in North America include the following:

Ants

Ground-dwelling ants make deeply rooted nests in household lawns. Their presence might create unsightly mounds in turf and soft spots that can further erode into large depressions. Extensive ant colonies mean lots of tunnels and warrens, which can dry out your turf soil and brown out large patches of grass.

Treatment: You can fight many species of ants with periodic applications of insecticide, consistent lawn watering and, if certain colonies become deeply rooted, by hiring professional insect removal experts to destroy the nests.

Billbugs

There are several species of billbugs that commonly invade lawns and feed on the parts of grass where turf and roots meet. Female billbugs in particular are dangerous to turf because as they eat, they also leave behind larvae in their wake. These larvae are even more voracious than their parents and hatch rapidly in the warmer months to eat grass stems and shoots. A single female billbug can drop 200 or more eggs per season, meaning an obvious problem for your turf.

Treatment: For billbug treatment, a thorough application of insecticide during the early spring is the best remedy. This is a time of the year in which the female insects haven’t yet laid their seasonal eggs, so you’ll be stopping the problem before it gets worse.

Piercing-sucking Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs slowly but steadily ruin turf by piercing grass shoots with their mouth parts and sucking out the juices. This can cause major brown patches when done by hundreds of these little critters at the same time. Populations can grow quickly as a single female can lay more than 200 eggs in heavy grass thatch over a couple of months.

Treatment: You can treat piercing-sucking Chinch bugs with an application of insecticide during the spring months and by making sure to keep the level of thatch in your lawn low enough to shrink their preferred lawn habitat.

General Prevention and Protection

The most important things you can do to protect your lawn are preventative steps that keep it healthy. Good year-round lawn maintenance creates a turf landscape that’s unfriendly to voracious pests and leads to grass that’s resilient to attacks.

Some essential lawn care steps include the following:

• Water your lawn regularly and deeply during dry weather.
• Regular mowing of turf to a height of 3 inches or less.
• Avoid too much fertilizer use.
• Aerate soil at least twice a year, especially during moist spring and fall weather.
• Avoid thatch buildup with frequent raking and lawn cleaning.

Be vigilant and step into action to identify and destroy pests as soon as you notice their presence. A normally healthy lawn makes pest damage much easier to notice when it starts.

Grass is considered the traditional covering for outdoor areas, but cutting it is a chore many like to avoid. If you’re putting off the mowing, it could be time to consider ditching the turf and opting for something that’s a little less maintenance-heavy. Read on to discover our top 10 alternatives to cutting grass.

1. Wildflower Meadow

Wildflower meadows are a low-maintenance alternative to lawns that bring bursts of color, butterflies, insects and pollinators into your garden. Use annual, biennial and perennial grasses and flowers that thrive together and are native to your region.

2. Fragrant Ground Cover Plants

Fragrant ground cover plants are a great idea for sun-soaked gardens. Chamomile treneague creates a springy, green carpet that gives off a fruity fragrance, while red creeping thyme produces purple-red flowers in early summer. 

3. Wide Walkways With Gravel

From widening existing walkways to replacing the entire lawn, incorporating gravel into your landscaping results in an easy-to-maintain garden with a smart-casual look. The gravel color decides the vibe your garden gives off, so choose carefully. 

4. Artificial Turf

It looks like grass, but it needs none of the upkeep. Artificial turf stays bright green and vibrant all-year round. The standard of finish and longevity of your artificial grass is dependent on the quality of turf and the expertise of installation.

5. Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is a modern low-maintenance landscaping technique using plants interspersed with gravel. Popular in dryer climates, it requires little water to keep the garden thriving. If you live in a wetter region, xeriscaping is still possible, but consideration needs to be given to the type of plants used.

6. Easy-Care Decking

Decking makes cutting the grass a thing of the past. It’s easy to maintain and creates a level outdoor space that can be used 24/7. Whether you opt for hardwood or a composite look-alike to keep down the costs, decking is the easy-care lawn alternative that withstands most weather conditions.

7. Moss

Moss can take time to establish but, once it does, you’re left with a rich green, springy and textured ground cover that requires no fertilizing and no cutting.

8. A Japanese Garden

The Japanese design gardens that are minimalist, low-maintenance and often grassless. Creating a Japanese-inspired garden can be as easy as finding a central feature, such as an apple tree, surrounding it with large stones and using gravel to cover the rest of the outside space.

9. Stonecrop Succulents

Also known as sedum, stonecrop succulents need no cutting or trimming and eliminate the hassle of weeding. This hardy plant is frost-resistant, drought-tolerant and retains its thick waxy leaves throughout the year. Sedums range in color from pale green to purple to add color and texture to your garden.

10. Raised Beds

Raised garden beds are a great alternative to grass. Although you can buy ready-made beds, they’re also easy to build yourself. From seasonal flowers to herbs and vegetables, what you plant is entirely up to you.