(NAPSA)—Some simple preparation can keep your yard healthy and invitingall season long. “The key to a healthy lawn is to catch a problem early and treat before the condition gets out of control,” says Dr. Charles Barr. “The best time to treat is when you first see a problem. Brown or yellow spots are often the first indication of lawn problems and they need to be treated early to prevent spread.” Need help diagnosing your lawn problem? Here are some commonailments: Grubs: Lawn and garden problems often stem from underground insects. The most common underground insect is a white, caterpillar-like insect called a grub. Grubs have an insatiable appetite for grass roots. Grubdamaged lawns show large, irregular sections of brown turf that easily detach from thesoil. Insects: A typical lawn is home to thousands of insects. Manyof them are beneficial to the lives of lawns and other plants. Others can have detrimental effects. The more common insect species include ants, fleas, ticks, armyworms, chinch bugs and Europeancraneflies. Areas of the lawn underattack will turn brown and small mounds of soil may becomeevident. Lawn Disease: If you are having a lawn problem and there is no sign of insects or grubs, your lawn could be suffering from a lawn disease. Lawn diseases are common all over the country because the disease-causing fungi are already present in thesoil. They become off balance when the lawn is stressed by extremes in the weather; such as heavyrain, drought and unseasonably warm Keeping the grass greener on your side of the fence may be easier than you thought. or cool temperatures. There are over 20 different types of lawn disease and they can often be identified by brown or yellow spots, patches or rings, fungus, mildew, mushroomsor mold. To answertheir lawns’ growing needs, homeowners now have access to professional products containing active ingredients previously available only to lawn care professionals. These treatments promise faster and longer-lasting results. For instance, Maxide Professional Grade Insect Killer has dual-action technology, so it kills on contact, absorbs into the plant and is released over time for season long protection. The com- pany offers similar products for grubs and lawndisease. To learn more about lawn problems and solutions, visit www.maxide.com.
