Most household lawns are not large enough to attract so many pests that a serious problem will result, but nonetheless, they can be a nuisance and cause some minor damage to your grassy nook. Insects are not very easy to spot, as some are so small they are naked to eye, however, they can be identified by dead, brown patches of grass. Telltale signs of moles and gophers are a little more obvious- dirt hills on top of your lawn, and beneath them, tunnels and holes. Once you identify that you have pests, you then need to decide best way for you to take care of problem.

The first option is to call an expert. Use your local directory or a referral from someone you know that had a similar problem. But if you are like most people today, you may want to do it yourself. And, if you are a DIYer, first thing you need to do is size up your situation, and what you are up against. Let's look at insects first.

When dealing with insects, first thing you must realize is that not all insects are bad guys. Sure, we probably would swat at them all, but in reality, some insects can actually act as exterminators against others. Other insects can actually help control your thatch level. There are two types of insects when it comes to ones who invade your lawn: above and below ground insects. Above ground insects usually feed on your grass, and can be seen fairly easy. Some examples of these can be chinch bugs, green bugs and armyworms.

Wash and dry your lawn mower after mowing season is over. A power blower can be very helpful in removing grass and debris from underside of your lawn mower and other hard to reach areas. If your lawn mower engine is air-cooled, use a stick or wooden dowel to remove any residue from cooling fins. If you have a lawn mower with a water-cooled engine, check coolant level and fill reservoir if needed. Clean radiator cooling fins with a strong jet of water. You should also drain fuel tank and replace fuel filter. The air filter housing should be cleaned and air filter replaced.