Our urban expanses of turf improve our quality of life in a multitude of ways. These green carpets provide a pleasing look while reducing sun glare, dampening sound and reducing summer temperatures. Turf further improves our environment by contributing to the oxygen cycle, purifying the air and filtering water. When compared to artificial surfaces, turf reduces athletic injuries while providing for outstanding characteristics to play sports such as golf, football, baseball, soccer, and tennis.
Unfortunately, our vast expanses of turfgrass are often very susceptible to attacks from weeds, diseases and insects. When these organisms try to establish themselves in our turf or use the turf as food, we consider them pests. Turf foliage, stems, thatch and roots provide bountiful environments for a host of insects and mites.
Certain intensively managed turfgrasses tend to produce thick thatch layers. This thatch provides a more uniform environment for surface insects such as chinch bugs, billbugs, sod webworms and cutworms. Thatch layers can also interfere with the ability of pesticides to reach soil-inhabiting pests such as white grubs and billbug larvae. Therefore, selection of grass types which are not prone to develop thatch, as well as not over fertilizing turf, can discourage outbreaks of insect pests and improve chemical control efficacy.