Your lawn is really just a jungle for a variety of different pests and when they get hungry they can cause your grass problems and if they get real hungry they may start coming inside your home.
Preventing pests is easier then curing an infestation. Unfortunately because of the vast number of pests in your garden and the ones that go untreated in your neighbors yard the best you can hope for is a manageable situation where you keep their numbers in check.
Not to mention there are some good insects out there and even the ones that may cause damage to your lawn actually do have some benefits in the overall ecosystem…not to mention if you were able to get rid of all the insects that caused damage you would also get rid of the good insects like honey bees, worms even ants have a purpose..
Treating your Yard for Insect Pests
Spring is really the best time to get a jump on pests in your yard. This is the time of year that dormant insects wake up and start to multiply.
If you can treat your yard early then the amount of pesticide you will need to use will be much less.
The type of Pesticide that you use will depend on what type of insects you are trying to kill. Along with the type of pesticide will be the way you apply it. Some pesticide is available in a few different forms.. you may find the same chemicals used in a spray can, spray liquid that you hose on and granular products that are dry.
Granular pesticides are probably the best type of pesticide for overall treatment of your yard and when applied correctly they provide the highest effectiveness over a long period and are less hazardous to you when you are applying them.
Lawn Grubs should be treated with granular pesticides early in the spring to kill off their larva or when needed at any time in the summer or fall seasons.
Liquid Pesticides are great for spot treatment. Liquids that you mix up yourself or that are despensed from a garden hose attachment are relatively cheap and will work quickly. Unfortunately they will not last for a long period of time and they may not be suitable for every type of pest.
Bees, Roaches, Ants are effectively treated with liquid pesticides that you can apply in a garden sprayer. Make sure not to spray around your vegetables or fruit trees.
Spray Can Pesticides are the most expensive and are used for direct contact on pests such as ants, roaches, bees and other infestations. If you are using the product inside make sure the label says it can be used inside and protect any areas needed such as food, plates and any place where direct contact is probable rather then possible. Mechanical forms of removal inside your home may be best.. such as a vacuum cleaner.
Specialty Applications of Pesticides
There are some special products that can be applied to reduce pests in and around your home that will increase safety or improve effectiveness.
Bait Traps are good for some situations where you need to treat inside your home for insects that are nocturnal such as roaches. Termite specialists will also use special bait traps around your yard to fight off termites along with trench treatments around your foundation. Baits should be formulated to kill the hive of insects when the pest returns to its home.
Foggers are also popular but must be used correctly. A fogger in a can that you may purchase at the store does not have the full effectiveness of a tenting of your home but it may leave a residue that is harmful for you, your children and pets. Be careful and always follow the directions and go well above any precaution suggested by the manufacture.
Long Range Bee Spray is your best bet when attacking hives or nests of bees they will give you a spray of about 10 feet allowing you to quickly apply the pesticide then remove yourself to safety.
Final Note on Pesticides
It is important to know your ability to tackle a problem of pests. Although you may feel capable of ridding your home of a small number of bees or other insects you may find that your attempts put you in danger.
Some people are allergic to bees.. and even those people who are not allergic can become permanently allergic or even die if they are stung by a large number of bees. This is something that most people ignore. If you get stung by a swarm of bees you may survive it but you may live the rest of your life sensitized to the poison in their stinger…
I would never suggest that you try to remove any nest of bees larger then about 1 foot in diameter. A nest of this size can support hundreds of bees that you may not see on the actual nest while you are applying pesticide but once the first bee stings you the rest will swarm. Bees normally leave the nest during the day to feed and return at night. Applying insecticide while they are away will limit your contact and kill the bees that return later.
The same is true for roaches. Roaches can carry some nasty diseases. If your home has an infestation that you can not control with a few cans of spray or bait traps within a few days then you should call a professional. They will provide you with better application and information that you can use for the next time.
Basically when in doubt call a professional. Many pesticides are safe for normal use but if you are overusing pesticides they can become toxic to you too.