A beautifully trimmed and manicured lawn is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and peaceful areas of your home. But it is also the most suitable place for all kinds of bugs and insects to thrive. When your lawn is overrun by tiny, crawling pests, determined to bite or sting you at the most inopportune moment, your peaceful haven can soon turn into a place of madness.
If you have a major insect problem in your lawn, you ended up at the right place.
This guide will help you learn about:
The 6 best lawn insect killers of 2019
How To Choose Between Chemical or Natural Lawn Insect Killers?
Liquid Lawn Insect Killer & Granular Insecticide: What To Use?
EcoSMART is one of the fastest growing and best natural insect killer brand in the United States.
The primary aim of the company is to create all-natural pesticides, and they do that by incorporating natural plant oils in their insecticides, which provide defense against insects and disease.
The active ingredient in EcoSmart Insect Killer granules blocks the neural pathways that exist only in insects called octopamine receptors. Hence, it does not affect plants, humans, and animals.
Pros
1 10 lbs bag can cover 5,000 sq.ft
Can kill over 100 insects
100% organic
Safe for pets, humans, and plants
Non-toxic
Minty scent
Cons
Not as fast-acting as chemical insecticides
Some customers say it is not as effective as chemical insecticides
The highly powerful insecticide is safe to use in yards, gardens, orchards, and shrubs and even on the foundation of the house but can be dangerous if ingested by small children or if allowed to seep into open waters.
Spectracide Insect Killer eliminates insects above and below the ground, including several types of ants and 100 types of invading insects.
The best time to apply the insect killer is between July and October.
Pros
Kills insects on contact
Works above ground and underground
Can be used in lawns, garden, orchards and even in houses
One of the best granular lawn insect killer, Bonide Insect & Grub Control Granules contains Imidacloprid and Lambda-Cyhalothrin, which kills craneflies, mosquitoes, ants, ticks, mole crickets, fleas, fire ants, cutworms, chinch bugs, weevils, and over 40 other pests, both below and under the ground.
A single 6lbs bag is enough to treat 7,500 sq ft of lawn. One disadvantage is that you will need to purchase a lawn spreader to distribute the granules evenly. It is safe for pets and children, who can play on the treated land after a few hours.
This is one of the best liquid lawn insect killers available in the market and is perfect for lawns, gardens, and the patio.
However, you should not spray it on trees during harvest season, and it should not be sprayed directly on vegetable and fruit as it has chemicals that are dangerous when consumed.
Ortho Bug B Gon kills about 235 varieties of insects, including ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes, and a 32 oz bottle can cover 5,300 sq ft. It is not harmful to humans, but since it contains chemicals, you need to make sure that the solution is completely dry before you let out your children or pets.
Pros
Kills over 235 insects
Easy to use
Repels mosquitoes for 6 months, other insects for 3 weeks
The insecticide is also extremely fast and efficient, killing bugs and common lawns pests above and below the ground, in under 24 hours.
The pesticide provides protection against pests for three whole months. It is also said to be children and pet-safe but make sure the product is completely dry before you let them out to play, as the chemicals can end up causing allergic reactions.
The insect killer lawn granules specifically targets ticks, flees, worm larvae, ants and over 30 different species of pests and insects.
A 20 lbs bag is enough for 5,000 sq.ft and can repel mosquitoes and other insects for up to three months. However, if you see insects come crawling in, you can re-apply the product.
The product needs to be watered immediately after application and children or pets should not be allowed in the area until after the insecticide has dried off. Sevin Insecticide Lawn Granules leaves no residue, and the package says it is safe to be used on vegetables.
Pros
Covers 5,000 sq ft
Repels mosquitoes and insects for 3 months
Pet and child-safe
Leaves no residue
Can be used on vegetable crops
Cons
Contains chemicals
Harmful if ingested
Toxic to aquatic creatures
User Guide
How To Choose Between Chemical or Natural Lawn Insect Killers?
Natural or organic insecticides are considered to be less potent and effective than their chemical counterparts, even though millions of customers use them every year and claim their gardens turn out fine. If you are concerned about the safety of your children, pets and the environment, organic insect killers should be your pick.
There are other ways you can battle lawn bugs naturally. When it comes to your garden, attracting beneficial insects and predators is a good way to get rid of many harmful bugs and pests. Beneficial nematodes are natural predators of cutworms, crane flies, fiery skippers, lawn moths, and armyworms.
Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium, also works great for these bugs. Spiders, wasps, pirate bugs and big-eyed bugs work great for chinch bugs. To get rid of mites, all you need to do is keep your grass trim and short.
You can also use organic control like potash soap and a solution of citrus soap, biodegradable soap and insecticide soap mixed with peppermint oil.
Chemical insect killers are often the only option when you are left with an overrun lawn. Most of these insect killers contain harmful ingredients like bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and cypermethrin, that can be dangerous to humans, animals, and aquatic creatures if ingested or if left to find its way into natural water bodies.
If you are using a chemical insecticide, make sure you always follow the safety guidelines on the packaging and keep them out of reach of children.
Liquid Lawn Insect Killer & Granular Insecticide: What To Use?
Lawn insect killers come in two variations: the liquid type that can be sprayed and the granular type that is spread on the lawn.
Liquid Lawn Insect Killer
Liquid lawn killers usually come in highly concentrated forms that need to be diluted in water to form a sprayable solution. Many of them also have special containers to which you can connect your garden hose.
These are very convenient and also provide safety as the insecticide has fewer chances to come in contact with your hands. One disadvantage of these types of containers is that they are prone to leak, especially those that have cheap connections and are not able to withstand the water pressure.
Granular Insecticide
Granular insecticides come in pellet form like fertilizers. They are large enough that they cannot be accidentally ingested during use; however, you should still consider wearing a mask as the bags can contain a lot of insecticide dust. The granules are packaged for instant use and do not need to be mixed with water.
These can be spread with your hands that are protected by gloves, but if you have a large piece of land to cover, this can take a lot of time. One possible solution to that problem is to get a seed spreader that can distribute the granules as evenly as possible on the entire lawn. After application, the lawn needs to be watered so that the product can seep inside the ground for maximum effectiveness.
FAQs
How do I know my lawn is infested with grubs and insects?
A lot of time, homeowners are not aware when they have a bug infestation because many of the insects live beneath the ground. These insects, however, attract a lot of predators like skunks and moles that can create burrows and holes in your carefully manicured lawn.
They also can result in killing patches of your lawn.
If you spot inexplicable holes in the garden or patchy lawn, check to see if you have a large number of bugs in your garden. Remove a one-foot section of the soil, and if the ground has 7 to 15 grubs, it means you have a bug infestation.
Do insect lawn killers harm new grass?
Before applying any insect killer, always follow the guidelines on the packaging. Most insecticides do not harm new grass as they are designed to target only insects. However, when it comes to new grass, a lot of application of water is required, which may conflict with your insecticide requirements.
Are chemical lawn insect killers harmful for pets?
Many insecticides contain active ingredients like Zeta-Cypermethrin, which has a low-toxicity level for mammals but is highly dangerous for insects. Then there are pesticides which use other toxic compounds that can be dangerous for children and pets as well.
Most insect killer companies suggest keeping your animals and small children off the lawn until the treated area has been dried. For best practices, make your lawn a no-go-zone for 24-48 hours to ensure all residue is gone from the soil surface.
What is the best time to apply lawn insect killers?
The best time to apply insecticides is during the early morning and evening hours, when there are no winds and no rain forecast for the next 24-48 hours.
This reduces the chances of the lawn insect killer being blown or washed away. It also decreases the risk of the insecticides coming into contact with bees and other pollinating insects. Most pesticides can be used during the growing season but is not recommended just before harvesting.
What weather temperature is best for application of lawn insect killers?
In general, temperature does not impact the performance of pesticides. However, it does affect the mobility of the insects in your lawn. Since insects are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their body temperatures, they are more active during the warm seasons. Therefore, temperature of 70- 90 degrees is perfect for applying most lawn insect killers.
Can I use an insecticide on myself as a repellant?
No. Lawn insect killers should never be applied on humans or your pets as they contain chemicals that can be harmful. When applying insecticides, wear gloves to prevent direct contact with the skin. Also keep your lawn free from pets and people 24 hours after application.
Although there are a few organic products available in the market, most insecticides usually contain chemicals. However, if used according to the instructions, they are not dangerous to humans. They also provide a great solution for bug infestation and keep your lawn free from pesky insects for a long time.
