It has been over a month now, and the sod webworm is still
chewing the grass down to the runner, leaving weakened areas for weeds. The
jagged, half chewed leaf blades give the grass a ratty appearance and give an
opening for disease also. I know one yard that has had four different
insecticides applied to it and new damaged areas keep appearing.
During “The Garden Clinic” radio show this past weekend, The
Super Garden Hero and I must have had 8 calls in an hour about the sod webworm.
So many calls on one subject is a sure indication that the Lowcountry is under
attack. In the 23 years that we have done the radio show, I cannot remember
(might be because I’m getting old) one topic dominating the phone lines like
the sod webworm did this past weekend. Hopefully,
the cooler weather will send this “snowbird” insect back down to Central
Florida and South Florida where it overwinters.
If you are battling the sod webworm, you might want to mow
your grass every 5 to 7 days a little lower than normal. Sod webworms usually
eat at night and on cloudy days, so birds (a natural predator) will not see
them. By keeping the grass cut low, the birds might be able to see them easier
and you might get some free control.
You might want to put some bird feeders out to attract
birds. All birds do not eat sod webworms, but the webworm might be scared to
feed on your grass with a bunch of bird activity in your yard. Birds are also
fun to watch anyway.
If you can apply any control products late in the afternoon
or early evening closer to the time the insect feeds, your success might
increase. Due to scheduling late applications are not always practical; however,
if you can do it late, give it a try.
Hopefully, this is that freaky year and we will go back to
our normal mild fall outbreak. Every year one pest dominates the landscape and
this has been the year of the sod webworm. I’m glad we do not have to fight it
all year long like they do in South Florida.
A cold winter will do a lot to keep the sod webworm in check
here.
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
