We’re all spending more time in our yards these days, but are Chafer beetles or other lawn issues getting you down? Good lawn care practices throughout the year can help defend your lawn against pests, disease and damage.
COQUITLAM, BC, May 21, 2020 – We’re all spending more time in our yards these days, but are Chafer beetles or other lawn issues getting you down?
Good lawn care practices throughout the year can help defend your lawn against pests, disease and damage. The City of Coquitlam has compiled some tips for residents who want to love their lawn again – and who are interested in alternatives for creating an attractive, earth-friendly and low-maintenance yard.
Strengthen Your Lawn to Avoid Beetlemania
You may not know you have a Chafer beetle infestation until raccoons, birds and other wildlife start digging up your lawn to get to the grubs underneath. This not only turns lawns into eyesores and but can cause long-term damage, making your grass prime for another infestation.
The good news is that a strong, robust lawn can naturally ward off Chafer beetles. Here are some ways to improve your lawn’s resilience:
- Aerate in the spring and fall;
- Over-seed bare or thinning areas of lawn;
- Apply compost soil or a slow-release fertilizer; and
- Keep your lawn about 6-8 centimetres tall all year round – this not only promotes healthy roots, but taller grasses impede the survival of Chafer Beetle eggs.
For more tips on managing Chafer beetle, visit www.coquitlam.ca/chaferbeetle or contact the Water Conservation Coordinator at waterconservation@coquitlam.ca.
Lawn Alternatives
Many low-maintenance materials are available to replace grass, from drought-tolerant groundcover plants and mulch to rock gardens and gravel.
Consider replacing some or all of your lawn with drought-tolerant groundcover plants that do not attract Chafer beetle, such as microclover, brass buttons or creeping thyme. Your garden centre can provide advice about selecting plants that are not invasive and suit your surroundings.
It’s important to avoid invasive species that will spread aggressively, kill off native plants and can cause erosion and destroy habitat. Some, like Giant Hogweed, are also dangerous to human health. Get information on common invasive plant types and tips on preventing their spread at www.coquitlam.ca/badseed.
Grow a Chemical-Free Garden
Since 2012, Coquitlam has banned the use of many pesticides in both private and public gardens and properties – including some types that are legally allowed for sale. .
Pesticides can be harmful to human health while also endangering pets, wildlife and insects, including the pollinators we need to grow our food and gardens.
For information about restricted pesticides and a list of safe alternatives, visit www.coquitlam.ca/pesticides.