Disappearing grass

[nadeem_k]

Hi Guys,

My kikuyu lawn was nice and thick and green last year. Since the winter, I have noticed the grass is disappearing. There are sand patches in areas that were once thick green grass. I would imagine the lack of rain could be a factor but I have noticed a lot of ants in the garden.

What can I through on the grass to kill off any pests without damaging the grass. I bought some "blue death" but I know that usually kills the grass. It would be great if there are some home remedies that I could use that will kills the ants but not destroy the grass.

I would imagine the grass would grow back once the pests have been eliminated?

 

[supersunbird]

Hi Guys,

My kikuyu lawn was nice and thick and green last year. Since the winter, I have noticed the grass is disappearing. There are sand patches in areas that were once thick green grass. I would imagine the lack of rain could be a factor but I have noticed a lot of ants in the garden.

What can I through on the grass to kill off any pests without damaging the grass. I bought some "blue death" but I know that usually kills the grass. It would be great if there are some home remedies that I could use that will kills the ants but not destroy the grass.

I would imagine the grass would grow back once the pests have been eliminated?

Ants or termites?

 

[nadeem_k]

Ants or termites?

Not sure, how can I tell? Could be crickets also, I've seen a few come into the house?

 

[Roo!]

It sounds like termites to me. Use some Kamikazie, it works well!

And yes, the grass will return once the pest has been removed.

 

[pinball wizard]

It would be great if there are some home remedies that I could use that will kills the ants but not destroy the grass.

Maize meal. Sprinkle it wherever there are ants.

 

[supersunbird]

Maize meal. Sprinkle it wherever there are ants.

Feed the ants? Yes, there is some household powder but it isn't maize meal, I forgot which powder though.

 

[Stokstert]

Go to Chamberlains, Builders Warehouse or Co-ops and get Cypermethrin. They sell it for +- R160-R180 for 750ml. You use very little in comparison to the smaller pesticides sold by garden shops. Many pesticides with different names actually contain Cypermethrin as main ingredient and cost up to R80 for 100ml. Cypermethrin is good for most pests like ants, crickets, cutworm, termites and many others.
Just Google it for extra information.

I had a termite invasion,as described by you this year too and got rid of it with Cypermethrin. Good luck.

 

[supersunbird]

Not sure, how can I tell? Could be crickets also, I've seen a few come into the house?

Termites look different to ants *shrugs*. I ask because our sidewalk lawn had termites at one stage, grass went *poof* in much of the areas as the termites cut them up for food, and it became sandy.

 

[nadeem_k]

Feed the ants? Yes, there is some household powder but it isn't maize meal, I forgot which powder though.

I read washing powder, but the issue I would think it would kill the grass

 

[nadeem_k]

Go to Chamberlains, Builders Warehouse or Co-ops and get Cypermethrin. They sell it for +- R160-R180 for 750ml. You use very little in comparison to the smaller pesticides sold by garden shops. Many pesticides with different names actually contain Cypermethrin as main ingredient and cost up to R80 for 100ml. Cypermethrin is good for most pests like ants, crickets, cutworm, termites and many others.
Just Google it for extra information.

I had a termite invasion,as described by you this year too and got rid of it with Cypermethrin. Good luck.

Will it kill the grass?

 

[Napalm2880]

It sounds like termites to me. Use some Kamikazie, it works well!

And yes, the grass will return once the pest has been removed.

I've seen harvester termites decimate 2sqm of grass in a single day. Try to find their nest and throw Kamikazie around it. They'll probably return in a few weeks so keep an eye out for another nest and Kamikazie them again. It's taken us 3 months to get rid of our infestation.

 

[Jings]

Feed the ants? Yes, there is some household powder but it isn't maize meal, I forgot which powder though.

Ants love maize meal but their bodies can't digest it so basically it starves them.

 

[nadeem_k]

Termites look different to ants *shrugs*. I ask because our sidewalk lawn had termites at one stage, grass went *poof* in much of the areas as the termites cut them up for food, and it became sandy.

I looked at the pictures and it doesn't look like terminated. I've seen lots of crickets and tons of ants

 

[Beachless]

You need to find out what pest it is and then treat the grass to kill them. After that throw some KAN fertilizer before the next rain. A light covering of fertilizer is a good idea every 2 or 3 months it will give the grass a nice green color.

 

[Hemi300c]

Diatomaceous earth

 

[Stokstert]

Will it kill the grass?

Cypermethrin will not kill the grass.

 

[nadeem_k]

Any ideas what pest control for termites costs?

 

[saynothing]

I have the same problem, but I also have puppies... so I don't want the poison to affect them. Any suggestions?

 

[Lupus]

Any ideas what pest control for termites costs?

Rentokill charged me R3500 for a 400sqm area.
NVM this was 3 years ago

 

[Sinbad]

Any ideas what pest control for termites costs?

We got some crowd in to do this, it cost about 5k for our 1400sqm plot.