When to Spray the Lawn for Bugs

Insecticide lawn spray is not a one-time application. To control insects around your home most effectively, spray your lawn several times throughout the year because different insects emerge at different times throughout the spring and summer.

Over the winter, many insects lie dormant in shrubs and trees, waiting for spring to emerge. To control these pests, spray your lawn, trees and shrubs between late February and early March before new green begins to grow. Use a dormant spray to control aphids, mites, caterpillars and the eggs of insects lain just before the dormant season. Spraying for these insects early will prevent them from developing into a problem and protect new plant growth from infestation.

During the later spring , it is not often necessary to spray your lawn for insects. If you have already sprayed during the early spring, your lawn should be protected until the early summer when summer pests like beetles begin to emerge. Spraying your lawn with an herbicide during the spring, however, is a way to control weeds like dandelion and crabgrass. Keeping your lawn weed-free helps to keep the population of insect pests in your yard down.

Early summer is another important time to spray for insect pests. In the summer, beetles, lace bugs and cut worms begin to emerge. Spray your entire lawn and garden to protect against these insects as well as against aphids, leaf hoppers and mites. Check your lawn and garden frequently for insect damage and reapply the spray when necessary. Remove dead plants and weeds as soon as possible to avoid attracting the kinds of insects that feed on decaying plant matter.

The height of summer is when mosquitoes tend to emerge. These nuisance pests multiply rapidly and unless you prevent them from breeding in your yard, you may find yourself overrun with mosquitoes. Remove patches of weeds, loose garbage and any standing water such as bird baths. Spray your lawn as well as resting places like flowers and foliage to deter mosquitoes. In addition to spraying your yard, plant some citronella grass to repel mosquitoes naturally.

The fall is the best time to spray your yard for crawling insects like ants and water bugs. Spray your lawn and concentrate especially on the area around the foundation of your house to create a pesticide barrier. This type of pesticide application is most effective against ants, spiders, centipedes, crickets and water bugs. In addition to spraying around the foundation, spray a 2- to 4-inch band of soil around the foundation to prevent insects from burrowing.