It’s officially time for OverSeeding here in Arizona! As temperatures begin to cool, we are looking to transition turf from Summer Bermuda to Winter Rye grass. Because OverSeeding is a process with multiple different stages and steps, many people are not sure where to start. Not to fear, we’ve got you covered by giving you all of the information you need to understand the first step in Overseeding this season; Scalping.
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What is Scalping?
Scalping, in its simplest terms, is a preparation technique that involves mowing turf lower so that the stems of the grass are exposed. This is done by lowering the mow height on the lawn mower while mowing, thus creating the brow-colored lawn that you see. This is specifically important in fall scalping as it allows the Bermuda to stay stronger while going dormant and allows the Rye seed to reach the ground.
How is Scalping done? In order to properly and effectively scalp, we start off by cutting the water a couple of days before scalp and then proceed to drop the mow height about 1-3 days prior to OverSeeding. After mowing, we collect and remove most of the clippings (leaving some as mulch for the OverSeeded seed). Once this is done, the turf should appear brown/tan as only the stems of the turf remain and a little bit of the soil is exposed. Light de-thatching, or the removal thatch accumulation, during this time ensures that the seed has appropriate contact with the soil.
After scalping, turf should be ready to move forward in the OverSeed process with the application of new seed. This new seed will require more frequent water times with shorter watering duration as we want to be sure to keep the seed moist without floating it.
Benefits of Scalping
Scalping, if done correctly, has a variety of benefits when it comes to a healthy transition for turf. Scalping works as a clearing process to ensure that the turf is free of debris, clippings, and thatch that could prevent the lawn from taking on new seed. This makes it easier for the seed to reach the soil while also working to prevent disease and turf health.
Another benefit of winter scalping is that the process exposes the soil to more sunlight, warming up the soil and promoting the growth of the seed.
Finally, scalping brings the entire lawn’s turf down to the stem, ensuring that all areas are the same height and receive the same amount of new seed. This promotes even growth throughout and leads to a better-looking lawn as the new seed grows in.
While it may not be appeasing to see the brown turf that appears following scalping, it is important to remember the benefits and reason behind performing this step when OverSeeding. The process takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks, but in time the brown turf that you are finding following the scalping process is replaced by healthy, strong winter grass that is appropriate for the season and promotes long term health.
Has Monsoon Season taken a toll on your community, or residential, trees? With high winds and furious downpours of rain, our trees can take a beating during our seasonal storms!
The first step in addressing storm damage to a tree is evaluating whether the tree can be saved or, rather, the tree would be a hazard if left. Some factors in this decision are: the extent of the damage to the crown of the tree, the survivability of the tree, the direction of the crown after the damaged portion is removed, and the surrounding tree coverage in the growing area.
If theextent of the damage to the crownof the tree is severe, or the tree has multiple years of continuous damage repair, the tree might be a good candidate for removal. Continuing to restore the canopy year after year may lead to unnecessary elevation of the crown and leave the tree with branch attachments that are potentially weak and prone to breaking. This continued repair might also leave the tree in a state of recovery mode as it accelerates its growth response to combat infections, diseases, or pests. The tree can develop an abnormal amount of advantageous growth that is both weakly attached and aggressive in its nature to demand nutrient resources from the parent tree.
The survivability of the tree is important and should be taken in to consideration as it relates to the amount of damage a tree sustains. Some species of trees are better at recovering from split branches, trunk stress, and limb damage than others. Another consideration is what part of the tree was damaged. Trees, and branches, have apical growth points to them. This is the area that causes branches to become longer and trees to become taller. Typically, this area is located at the upper-center portion of the tree. With our desert trees being decurrent in growth, they may have multiple apical growth points which it easier to restructure a new crown that has extensive damage. A pine tree, should it lose the upper portion of the crown, might not be a good candidate for restorative pruning as once a pine tree loses its main (or apical) stem growth point a new one cannot be grown.
Another item to evaluate would be the direction of the crown of a tree once the damage is removed. At times, it’s necessary to remove damaged limbs that have fallen on a wall, or roadway, leaving the tree unbalanced and in a direction that is undesirable. This unbalanced tree structure, and as the tree puts new recovery growth on, can put additional stress on a portion of a tree that might’ve been accustomed to sharing the canopy weight over its entire structure system. Once that system is re-directed, the internal road map of the tree might become overloaded and cause a decline in the tree.
An additional factor in whether or not to select a tree for restorative repair is the surrounding trees. If the surrounding trees are great in number, healthy, and are only minimally damaged then the severely damaged tree might be selected for removal. Depending on the landscape in the area, a tree might instead be selected to be repaired on a temporary basis. A suggestion would be to plant a new tree nearby as the heavily damaged tree is removed in phases. This will give the new tree time to root in and grow as the older tree is removed.
After the evaluation has been completed, and the damaged trees are selected, develop a plan for the pruning of the damaged limbs. Limbs should be cut beyond the split, outside of the branch collar, or at the lateral branch along a desirable stem. Using the reduction pruning method on damaged branches can help re-direct growth so a new canopy can be developed. This method can also be used to reduce the branch length left after the damage has been removed to better balance the tree. Keep in mind, the extensive nature of some tree damage might take several seasons to repair. Using temporary branches (branches that are kept only for a season with the intention of removing them as soon as the tree recovers) can help the tree recover and develop new growth at a much healthier rate.
If possible, keep the overall ordinary pruning, such as: elevation pruning, co-dominant stem removal, thinning, crown cleaning, and crowding branch removal to a minimum as the tree recovers. A severely damaged tree will need all of its resources to recover from the damage, all while limiting the potential for infection by pest or disease.
Our Arbor team at ELS is happy to help develop a site specific plan for your tree recovery needs, including developing long term recovery plans for your community tree forest!
Temperatures have been on the rise in recent weeks, hitting triple digit numbers here in the valley nearly every day. With this time of the year bringing in excessive heat and very little rain to cool our landscape down, certain plants are feeling the burn. One plant in particular that is suffering some consequences of these high temperatures, reflective heat, and little rain is the Lantana plant, commonly found here in the desert planted along sidewalks and roadways to beautify the area.
What Are Lantanas?
Lantanas are evergreen plants that are part of the broadleaf variety and are often classified as shrubs. These plants are a perennial and commonly found here in Arizona as they can survive on very little moisture and overly abundant sun. Lantanas should receive at least six hours of sun a day and most plants of the Lantana species thrive in hotter temperatures such as that of Arizona.
There are about 150 species of Lantana. Here in the desert, we most often find the following species:
L. Montevidensis: Also known as “Trailing Lantana” or “Weeping Lantana.” This plant is a low shrub that often takes the form of a vine offering flat groundcover. This species of lantana is strongly scented and can be differentiated from other lantana plants by its oval shaped leaves.
Lantana Camara: Also known as “Big Sage” or “Wild Sage,” this species is quite small and contains clusters of tubular shaped flowers that come in a variety of colors. The colors of flowers typically change after pollination and range from red, yellow, and orange, to white and pink.
Why Are Lantanas Burning?
Lantanas are often planted near sidewalks, granite, and roadways as a means of beautifying an area. Due to their location many of these plants are seeing significant sunburn from their surroundings as they experience the effects of heat reflection, especially when plants are seperated rather than planted in large groups. As temperatures rise to the triple digits and stay, the heat that hits the reflective surfaces of pavement, granite walls, and roadway is being directly reflected back on to the Lantanas planted near it. This causes the plant to overheat and suffocate as the plant burns due to the direct heat. Sunburn and lack of water effects typically look similar on the Lantana plant, however a quick probe into the soil can verify whether there is enough water or if the plant is burnt.
Healthy Lantana vs Sunburnt Lantana
What Can we do to Keep Our Lantanas Healthy?
Many people believe that the key to preventing burn on Lantanas is to increase the amount of water it’s given. While consistent watering is important to support your lantana plant through the summer, excess water left on the plants can enhance the effects of heat reflection and make your lantanas more susceptible to burn. It is important to be sure not to overcompensate with too much water to ensure that the plant survives. Watering on a normal schedule will ensure that the plants do not become too wet and attract the reflective sunlight.
Another popular myth to be debunked is that cutting down the plants will help lantanas survive the burn of the Summer heat. This theory is another misunderstanding as cutting the already burnt parts of the plant down exposes more of the plant and causes deeper burn. Instead of chopping lantanas, we should prioritize giving them proper water and letting the burnt parts of the plant grow out, saving the base of the plant in the process.
Lantana plants suffering burns in the Arizona desert will be able to fully recoup and survive the heat so long as they are not interfered with. As the heat reduces in the coming weeks, we will see Lantanas return to their thriving state and continue to beautify our desert home. This is when plant health can be assessed as to whether or not the plant should be removed (if it’s not growing back properly) or if a proper prune will suffice.
Let’s talk more about how you can maintain the investment in your landscape and improve its value. Call your business development team at any time or click here to fill out an inquiry form and we will get in touch with you.
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Consider the money you save from the overseed and water costs this year so you can: remove and update ‘wrong plant, wrong location’ areas or fill in areas that are missing plants.
As fall soon approaches it is important to remember more than just the jack o’ lanterns, cooler weather, and colorful leaves that surround us here in Arizona. Fall is typically the time we transition our grass warm season turf in the desert. Bermuda grass will become dormant for the winter typically around September-October which is when we begin to transition lawns to our winter Rye grass. This transition raises a question as to whether or not to overseed. Annual overseeding is pretty common for us in the valley, but is it the best move for your lawn this season?
Why Skipping Overseeding This Season Can Add Value
Overseeding with winter Rye gives our grass landscape a uniform green grass through out the winter, so why should we skip overseeding this season? With Arizona’s extreme heat and recent lack of rainfall this year, as well as increased pricing of seed and water, giving your grass a break from overseeding this season may be just what your budget, summer turf areas, and overall landscape need.
Overseeding with Ryegrass too often can lead to competition for nutrients, water, and light between your summer Bermuda and the winter Rye grass. This competition can lead to wear and spotty Bermuda throughout the summer.
Taking a break this season from overseed in your community will ensure that spring’s Bermuda grass won’t be in competition to come back from dormancy, creating a stronger and healthier summer lawn.
With the money saved in overseed and water cost, your community can do those planting and enhancement projects this fall that have been put off during the hottest and dryest monsoon season.
Let’s talk more about how you can maintain the investment in your landscape and improve its value. Call ELS business development team at 602.703.1850 anytime.
Your irrigation is a vital component in your landscape health and appearance, especially in dry or hot periods. Many systems are decades old and all systems require constant monitoring, maintenance, and repair. If you do not perform routine maintenance and repair, it will not work – no matter how much water you use. The systems are installed mostly subterranean in a dynamic environment. There are shifting and moving roots and rocks that can push up move down or break pipes, heads, valve boxes and wires and cause malfunctions. Some of the common issues are as follows:
Irrigation Valve Boxes
• Multiple people changing the settings on the box • Broken rain sensors • Broken irrigation heads • Poor water pressure • Lack of coverage • Broken pipes
A typical run cycle for a system uses 3,500 gallons. Right now, your system should be running 1-2 days a week for about 7-40mins per zone. As homeowners, it is important to watch the water usage through your irrigation system. Sometimes, five hundred square feet of new sod is cheaper than the water bill if you run enough to compensate for the tail end of the dry season. Meaning, at what point is it cheaper to let your soddie and install new sod as opposed to using all the water to maintain it. Subsequently, it is important to learn from the conditions and repair the irrigation if necessary.
Recommended Irrigation Check:
Each month your irrigation system should be run “zone by zone” in a test mode to inspect for proper coverage and/or any broken heads. Minor adjustments for improved coverage will be made on the spot at no charge, as long as they can be made within the allotted time for the irrigation check. This service is billed monthly and cost depends on the size of the irrigation system (#of zones).
This year we have seen several nights that have endured freezing temperatures in various parts of the valley. Many communities that have been affected show brown and yellow plants throughout the property, giving the landscape a less than desirable appearance. Before bringing in your landscaping crews to start trimming back the dead branches, hold off as the frost season is still upon us.
This year we have seen several nights that have endured freezing temperatures in various parts of the valley. Many communities that have been affected show brown and yellow plants throughout the property, giving the landscape a less than desirable appearance. Before bringing in your landscaping crews to start trimming back the dead branches, hold off as the frost season is still upon us.
In the Phoenix Metropolitan area, the frost season has been estimated to last from November through March, depending on where you live in the Valley. The outer east side and surrounding areas have been known to last even into April (it sounds hard to imagine, but remember that we are dealing with estimates). Below are a few tips to get you through the remainder of the frost season in your Arizona community:
Resist the urge to prune the dead, brown parts of your plants until the frost season is over. While even though the appearance of your plants is unsightly, unless the plant is completely dead it will need those brown parts for continued insulation before it begins to sprout again in the spring.
Drape sheets, blankets, or towels over your frost susceptible plants when nights are expected to be in the lower temperatures. Be sure to hang the sheet so that it covers the whole plant all the way to the ground, without tying it to the base. The loose blanket will help to trap the heat all the way around the plant and give it a stronger chance of survival while maintaining the greenness of the plant longer.
Don’t stop watering. While this may seem like an odd statement, it is, in fact, healthier for the plant to receive continued watering during the frost season. Frost damage occurs when the ice crystals formed on the leaves of the plant dry out causing dehydration. Damage from this dehydration will be less severe if the plant is not already drought-stressed. Try to keep everything evenly hydrated, without over-watering, as that can be even more harmful depending on the plant species.
Recovery Optimal pruning methods recommend waiting until new sprouts on the plant have become visible and the threat of frost season has passed. Only prune your community’s plants and trees after new growth has begun. This way you are better able to see where to cut your limbs so as not to remove healthy, stimulated branches. Some of the plants on your property including lantanas, ruellias, baha ruellias, oleanders, orange jubilee, bougainvillea, and yellow dots are all prone to frost damage, among others, and will be not be pruned until mid-February or at the last chance of frost.
The University of Arizona has provided a more extensive version of Frost Protection methods that is worth referencing as a guide during this season and can be found HERE.
In Phoenix, landscape maintenance is an essential year-round service to ensure the beauty and quality of your property, and to protect the significant investment in your grounds.
It’s a tall order because the “growing season” here is constant. Plants thrive 12 months out of the year. Sure, snowbirds who own residences in your Phoenix HOA might only spend a few months on the property, but constant care is required to keep the landscape at their vacation homes in prime condition.
Their second homes in your Homeowners Association are designed to be turnkey, maintenance-free and ready to go when they arrive for vacation. They don’t want to think about who mows the lawn in your common areas. That responsibility falls on you as the Homeowners Association.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone in this.
When you partner with a reputable landscape maintenance provider to manage the grounds, you can focus on what you do best: provide an optimum experience for the residents.
The right landscape maintenance provider will deliver seamless service, deploy crews of experienced professionals, and truly serve as the eyes and ears of the property. If they see a problem in the landscape, they’ll flag it and fix it. If they recognize an opportunity to enhance your HOA’s landscape, they’ll provide recommendations and offer workable strategies for completing projects (including the ROI that HOAs can expect).
The right landscape maintenance provider is a true partner.
Hire the wrong landscape firm, and your Phoenix HOA will wear the signs of neglect and residents will recognize that quality is not up to par – not to mention the property values will decrease too. We know it costs more to replace plant material and renovate landscapes than to properly maintain them. Therefore, an HOA that cuts corners with landscape maintenance will end up paying more to mend the effects of hiring a provider that is not committed to their landscaping needs.
So, what should you look for when you hire a landscape maintenance provider for your Phoenix HOA? (Equally important: What are red flags that you are, perhaps, in the wrong relationship?) Read on for some advice on selecting the right provider.
What To Expect From A Quality Landscape Maintenance Provider
There are certain staples to keep in mind when selecting a provider to care for the landscape at your Phoenix HOA. First, you want to be sure the firm has the appropriate insurance and holds certifications that indicate a level of industry professionalism. The number of years in business and properties the firm currently manages will also help you determine if the sales pitch your HOA board is hearing aligns with what the landscape provider can actually deliver. (Ask for references—and call them.)
Your landscape maintenance firm should verify that employees are screened and background checked so you can trust the professionals working on your property. The landscape maintenance provider should have a rigorous training program in place and quality standards so everyone—their staff, and your board—understands what results are expected.
Your landscape provider in Phoenix should be a year-round partner that is committed to managing your grounds, from maintaining the irrigation system to mowing, pruning plants, and managing pests and disease. Additionally, the provider should have the expertise to managing high-tree trimming (palm trees), landscape design and landscape installation. Ideally, you want a turnkey solutions provider that can manage everything green and growing on your property, and then some. Remember, there are layers of maintenance tasks required to keep a Phoenix HOA property looking its best 12 months out of the year. If any services are cut, you’ll notice.
Accessibility and open communication are critical, so you should ensure that the landscape provider assigns an account manager or single point of contact to your HOA property. This person should be readily available, honest and motivated to do the best for your landscape. The account manager should serve as your community’s personal go-to, taking full responsibility for all services performed onsite.
Red Flags: Common Landscape Maintenance Missteps
There are typical signs that a landscape firm is cutting corners on your HOA’s maintenance. We see these all the time. What often happens is price becomes more important than frequency of service or scope of work. For example, an HOA wants to cut down on mowing costs so a landscaper simply does less. (Remember, landscape firms are ultimately selling time. And they need enough time to properly service your landscape.) Cutting budget means sacrificing quality. Here are some common cuts we notice on properties that are not well maintained:
Inadequate irrigation
Lack of pest management
Poor lawn care practices: fertilization, weed and disease control
Preserve Property Value: Invest In A Committed Landscape Maintenance Provider
We understand, your HOA has a designated landscape maintenance budget. And what organization isn’t seeking ways to reduce spending and better manage financial resources? This is why open communication is critical with your landscape maintenance provider. Help the company understand exactly what your goals are for the property. What results do you expect?
Agree on expectations: An experienced landscape maintenance firm will provide a clear, detailed contract that sets expectations for services. You should have honest conversations with the provider. For example, if you want green grass year-round and healthy, blooming flowers, then cutting out irrigation maintenance and trimming back lawn care will not deliver the results you’re seeking.
Ask for a designated contact: Again, we can’t stress this enough. Your landscape maintenance provider should be accessible. That’s why at ELS Maintenance, an account manager is assigned to every property as a direct contact, and division managers ensure that the work completed meets our high standards.
Go beyond basic maintenance: Finally, your landscape maintenance provider should help you realize the potential for your community. Our team acts as the eyes and ears on your property. We identify opportunities to enhance spaces and increase the value residents will gain from the landscape. We’re onsite to listen to your ideas, and share our thoughts for ways to ensure a thriving landscape at your Phoenix HOA property. It always helps when clients allocate a modest budget for minor landscape enhancements that do not require approval. That way, your landscape provider can move forward with necessary tasks to maintain the value of your Homeowners Association landscape.
Uncommon Quality & A Dedicated Team
What makes an ELS Maintenance property different is our high standards for landscape maintenance, experienced team of professionals, and a deep understanding of what it takes to keep a Phoenix landscape healthy. Homeowners Associations that entrust in our firm know their landscape maintenance is taken care of, so they can focus on their homeowners.
Let’s talk more about how ELS Maintenance meets the specific needs of Phoenix Homeowners Associations. Contact us any time at 602.243.1106, or fill out this simple form and we’ll get in touch with you.
The fragrant, beautiful flowering Bougainvillea bush makes a statement in many Phoenix landscapes. Vibrant green hedges are a defining feature, and grasses lend a textured, natural feel to properties. The growing never stops in Phoenix, so routine landscape maintenance often includes trimming plants to maintain their shape and general size.
But when plants are only lightly pruned throughout the year, you’re essentially removing new growth. By trimming every few weeks, plants’ leaves and flowers never reach their full potential. Instead, you get a “nice looking” flowering plant or “just fine” shrub. We have higher standards for the landscapes we maintain, and annual rejuvenation pruning is important for achieving lush, healthy plants.
We know it seems counter-intuitive to prune back up to a foot of growth, even removing most foliage. But the reality is, rejuvenation pruning is much better for plant health and appearance than continuously trimming back.
Here’s why rejuvenation pruning is beneficial for your Phoenix landscape if you want your plants to peak perform.
Rejuvenation pruning Rejuvenates and ‘Right-Sizes’ Plants
During a season of growth, plants tend to outgrow their assigned footprint in a landscape bed. Shrubs can encroach on walkways, hedges get too tall and leggy, branches can block views and even become a safety hazard. Basically, plants outgrow their potential. Rather than looking beautiful and thriving, they take on a bushy look.
Rejuvenation pruning encourages new growth and ensures a fuller plant.
For grasses, rejuvenation pruning removes dead blades that can infiltrate the plant and prevent new growth from receiving the air, sunlight, and nutrients needed to thrive. Grasses tend to not be self-cleaning, so pruning removes old material to make room for the new.
What rejuvenation pruning does that regular pruning does NOT is give the plant a completely fresh start. After rejuvenation pruning, foliage and flowers grow back in, and this healthy rejuvenation continues throughout the year. If you prune continuously (with no hard pruning), you’re constantly taking the new inches of fresh growth off of the plant. You’ll never get to appreciate the plant’s true beauty. When clients decide to heavy prune for the first time, they are always surprised at how amazing their landscapes look—lush, green, blooming, full yet appropriately sized for their space.
When To Rejuvenation Prune (And When to Avoid It)
Fall Rejuvenation pruning should be done once a year after the excessive temperatures subside (September through November). That way plants can go into their dormant season and can have the time to bounce back properly in the spring. They will rejuvenate quickly from the pruning and efficiently produce new growth.
That said, not all plants benefit from rejuvenation pruning, so it’s important to know the growth habits and whether the plant will tolerate a hard cut-back. A small variety of plants in Phoenix do not require rejuvenation pruning because they are self-cleaning plants, meaning dead material naturally sheds so the plant looks fresh without pruning. A professional with a deep understanding of tree and shrub care will be able to identify which plants should be heavy pruned.
Why Rejuvenation Prune In Phoenix?
In Phoenix where our landscaping season is year-round, rejuvenation pruning annually is important, so hedges, grasses, and flowering shrubs can look their best. Without annual rejuvenation pruning, plants get overgrown and block views. Hedges and grasses can take over landscape beds and look messy. Flowering shrubs will not produce as many blooms if they are constantly sheared vs. rejuvenation pruned once annually to stimulate healthy plant regrowth.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to schedule rejuvenation pruning so the task can be accomplished between September and November. Don’t wait until the landscape is overgrown. The service should be properly performed to avoid over-pruning, so it requires an experienced landscape maintenance professional with a horticultural background.
Let’s talk more about how you can maintain the investment in your landscape and improve its value. Call us any time at (602) 243-1106, or click here to fill out an inquiry form and we will get in touch with you.
This year’s monsoons have devastated the valley with harsh winds and copious rains. Due to the excessive heat this summer and the 100 plus days with no recordable moisture this year, the desert trees fall dormant and stress, which causes their root structures to stretch to the surface to receive as much hydration as possible.
All too often we come across a community who experiences severe storm damage this time of year and didn’t properly prepare or have a plan in place for restoration. This is where budget planning comes into play. While monsoon season can be predictable as in the time of year it occurs, the strength of its storms cannot. We recently came across a property that lost over 500 trees in the past couple of storms. Yes, I said 500!!
Protect your community’s largest asset by putting a strong emergency storm damage plan in place. Queue BUDGET SEASON! Now is the time to start the discussions for forecasting potential disaster clean-up, replacement options for plant and tree material, property enhancements, etc. Speak with your landscape professional to discuss potential worse case scenario situations and start investing.
So how do I prepare? Here is a list of suggestions to help ensure your community is financially prepared for potential monsoon disasters.
Start with your landscape professional. Landscaping on a property is one of the community’s largest assets and therefore needs to be protected. Speak with your landscape professional about ways to work potential storm damage into the yearly budget and help calculate a suggested reserves deposit.
Speak with your Arbor team. Trees down are one of the most common visuals we see when the storms hit. So many factors can go into weak trees that are more susceptible to falling including, improper pruning, pest infestations in the tree and/or root structure, imbalanced chemicals in the soil, etc. By properly pruning your trees at the recommended time of year, and not just before the storms hit, will allow the tree to re-establish its weight and ground itself prior to the monsoons. It is also a critical practice to pull back drip irrigation away from the trunk of the tree as it grows to improve root growth and deter “balling”.
Speak with your Enhancements team. Another common result of monsoon storms is erosion issues. Make sure to have a plan in place, and budgeted funds set aside, for erosion issues to be repaired and the granite replenished. Other options could also be set in place to help prevent erosion from being so severe and give you a more proactive approach to maintaining your community versus reactive.
It can be challenging at times to try to forecast a community’s needs for the next year, but by speaking with the professionals, they can help guide you to make the most educated decisions for your community’s future.
White grubs are making their presence in lawns across the valley causing gradual thinning and weakening of turf-grass. White grubs are the larval stage of scarab beetles (aka June beetles, dung beetles, and masked chafers). Arizona has many different species of scarab beetles and most of which do not cause any damage, however, there are several species that can wreak havoc on turf-grass areas and other cultivated plants.
The white grub larvas start off by feeding on the turf-grass roots causing a weakening of the strand and gradual thinning. The damage may start off in small patches, gradually turning into much larger areas, even with adequate soil moisture. These grubs also attract larger animals such as birds, raccoons, and other small mammals who hunt for these insects as a source of food. These small mammals can also propose more unwarranted damage to the turf areas in your communities and lawn.
However, even though these pests can propose a problem in communities around the valley, it can be treated! There are different sources of insecticides that can treat the affected areas, reducing the amount of damage these grubs can cause. If you are seeing thinning areas in your turf, contact your landscape professional to see what options you have for treatment.
