 Grub problems have traditionally been found first along walks,
driveways or patios. The current list of products includes
imidacloprid and trichlorfon as the active chemical ingredients.
Sevin may also be used, but it is specific for Japanese beetle
grubs. Sevin also will have an effect on earthworms, which is good
and bad. It is good if you have mole problems and bad if you don’t.
If label directions are followed, these should provide adequate
control of grubs. The insecticide must get to where the grubs are,
so make sure to water the liquid formulations in as soon as they are
applied.
Seeding of grass is normally accomplished by Sept. 10. This is a
tried-and-true date, but the end of the world won't come about if
you are a week later. The goal is to give the seed enough time to
germinate and become established before bad weather arrives. The dry
weather again this year means seed sown in mid-August would still be
lying there (if birds haven’t found it). Seed at the rate of 4
pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet on bare spots, or half that
rate on overseedings.
If you have a compacted yard or a deep thatch layer, now is also
an ideal time to dethatch or aerate. Thatch layers should not be
over 1/2-inch deep for optimum growing conditions. When aerating,
make sure you use a core-type aerator.
Fall fertilization is also a good practice. If you haven't
fertilized in the last month, consider applying a fertilizer
treatment now. Use about 8 pounds of 13-13-13 fertilizer per 1,000
square feet of lawn. Try to avoid the high-nitrogen fertilizers this
late in the year. It's hard enough to keep up with the mowing as it
is, and nitrogen promotes top growth. The even-analysis fertilizers
will also promote root growth, which is what we want, going into the
late fall and winter.
Crabgrass and other annual grass weeds can be seen about
everywhere, but they have been affected by the hot, dry weather that
has sent many lawns into dormancy. The annual weeds surviving the
weather thus far will die with the first frost, so treatment is not
available or recommended in the fall. Make a note of where these
grasses are, and an overseeding to thicken up the grasses you want
there may help crowd out the annuals.
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Last, but not least, is broadleaf weed control. Fall is usually a
good time to treat problem perennial weeds since they are sending
food down to the roots to overwinter. A spray about the third or
fourth week of September (making sure to use the appropriate
product) can do a world of good on the perennial weeds. Remember to
be very careful with herbicides around perennial plants since they
are also getting ready to overwinter. Common sense also tells us it
is probably going to have to rain in order to get things growing
again and to be effective.
Syrphid flies
What most people call sweat bees are actually syrphid flies. Many
people are commenting about the yellow and black "sweat bees" flying
around everywhere the last week. If you have several in an area, you
can hear the drone as the wings vibrate. Syrphid fly is a generic
name given to an entire group of flies. There are some differences
in appearance and color, but the yellow and black color is the major
one in our area. The other names for syrphid flies are hover flies
or flower flies. They tend to hover around your arms and face when
you have been perspiring, and they land to lap up the sweat. They
are also commonly found on flowers, hence the flower fly name, and
they do a good job of pollinating.
Syrphid flies are actually beneficial insects. They help
pollinate; larvae feed on dead organic matter; and the larvae are
predators of aphids. Syrphid flies cannot sting, but their
mouthparts can usually be felt when lapping up sweat from sensitive
areas. You may feel a slight pinch.
[By
JOHN FULTON,
University of Illinois Extension]
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