Bugs and Slugs - Fescue Lawn

[Oren]

I've been rescuing my lawn "slowly" since I bought my home about two years ago. All big jobs are done for the renovations I had done.

I've worked to rescue the landscaping since then; irrigation, fescue lawn / desert landscape. Remove trees, shrubs, put new trees in, etc. Find lost drip emitters and fix irrigation.

I over compensated watering the back lawn areas this summer, trying to hold the lawn in a blistering summer - 100F +

Now I have slugs and these small bugs that curl up in a little ball.

I'm correcting the water issue by the timer.

What are the armor looking bugs, all curled up in a ball. As for the slugs; I will be after them, but in a desert I never had slugs before.

Suggestions, please?

Oren

[Eggs Zachtly]

Kids call them "rolly pollys", aka pill bug, aka sow bug. They're actually the wood louse (Porcellio scaber). They're also actually a terrestrial crustacean, and not a "bug". They're found in damp areas, usually with some sort of rotting vegetation or wood. If you've been over-watering, then that's most likely the reason for their appearance. They're not really a threat to your lawn, but they're easily controlled with a pesticide specifically designed for crawling insects, but if the conditions remain favorable to them, they'll return.

Again, watering conditions brought them about. They're most active at night, so avoid watering in the evening. If they're only in certain areas, you can bury a jar lid, upside down, even with the soil. Fill the lid with beer, and they'll crawl in and drown. Not a bad way to go, if ya gotta go, eh? =)

Either way, if you get your watering schedule under control, I doubt you'll have either of these pests for long. ;)

HTH

[Stubby]

Grubs. Try a "Stage 3" control / fertilizer.

Oren wrote:

[Oren]

I guess as a kid, we also called them "rolly pollys", just never really knew exactly what they were or if the would hurt the lawn. I'm adjusting the water sprinklers and will monitor the lawn. In the summer I cut the fescue long and shorter in the cooler months.

I hand picked a couple yesterday and was reading about slugs. They don't need a mate to lay eggs, so as I reduce the water I will pay close attention to the slugs...reduce moisture, etc....

We have watering restrictions right now between 11AM and 7 PM. I guess watering at night is bad for the lawn, where I thought the water would soak in better.

Thanks..

Oren

[Eggs Zachtly]

Yup, that's a good mowing practice.

Sure, it soaks in better. Moist, dark conditions also promote the growth of fungus, and as you've seen, creatures that love those conditions. If you water in the morning, it will soak in well, and the foilage has a chance to dry out before the sun goes down. If it were me, I'd set the timer to water very early in the AM (sun-up), rather than waiting as long as evening, where you'll find yourself in the same situation you're in now. Remember, the leaves need to have a chance to dry before dark. Sure, it rains at night, you can't control that. But, you can control when water is applied at other times.

Just something to think about. Good luck.

[Eggs Zachtly]

How many "armor looking" grubs have you ever seen? My guess is zero.

Just a suggestion, take it as you like, but you *really* need to quit posting here. The advice you continuously spew, serves no purpose but to confuse the person you're replying to. I'm sure you're just trying to help, but each time you hit "Send", you make yourself look like an idiot.

[trader4]

Funny, I came to the same conclusion about Stubby's advice too.

[Eggs Zachtly]

Now, if we can just get Stubby to the same conclusion...