If you’ve noticed crows and raccoons tearing up lawns in Fremont this fall and winter, you’re witnessing nature’s pest control in action, and dealing with a problem that’s getting worse with climate change.
“We’ve seen this crow action really ramp up over the last few years,” said Tan Gleason, former owner of Urban Earth Nursery and now owner of Urban Earth Gardens landscaping company. The culprits? European chafer beetle larvae feasting on grass roots.
The grub problem
European chafer beetles lay eggs that become grubs feeding on sod roots. Without intervention from crows and raccoons, these larvae would create large dead patches across lawns as they spread.
The warm winter temperatures may be making the problem worse. “The temperatures don’t get as low,” Gleason explained. “We’ve seen such warm temps this February, it’s been insane. Everything is confused. All the plants are confused.”
Without cold weather killing off larvae, grub populations may be increasing. The unusually early spring also means everything – weeds, plants, and pests – is arriving ahead of schedule.
For homeowners who want to protect their lawns, Gleason recommends beneficial nematodes applied twice yearly. These microscopic organisms inject grubs with bacteria that shut down their functions.
“It’s like a horror movie,” Gleason said of the process. The dead grubs then provide food for more nematodes and bacteria.
Another option is BTG (Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae), a natural bacteria also called grubGONE!. Apply it in late spring or early summer to reduce larvae reaching adulthood.
Surprisingly, well-maintained lawns fare better than unmaintained grass. “The grubs prefer a more unmaintained sod,” Gleason said. Regular reseeding and care reduce pest activity, though that contradicts the “let it go natural” approach many gardeners prefer.
Grass itself presents challenges. “It’s a monocrop,” Gleason explained. “It needs very specific situations to grow and thrive and needs a lot of help because it’s not native.”
Prepping for spring
With weeds already emerging faster than usual this year, Gleason recommends immediate action:
Pull weeds as soon as you see them. “We’ve been doing a ton of maintenance because as soon as you see them, you want to pull them,” Gleason said. Daily or regular weeding prevents being overwhelmed later.
Apply mulch now. Top dressing with mulch protects plants against potential temperature shifts while suppressing weeds.
Amend soil. Assess your soil composition and add necessary materials, such as acidic components for plants like blueberries, lime to adjust pH or dry soggy areas. “Putting good organic material down on a yearly basis helps create an ideal, healthy environment for plants to root,” Gleason said.
Use cover crops. Even in small planters and raised beds, cover crops like clover provide nitrogen fixing.
With Urban Earth Nursery closed, Gleason recommends several local options for materials:
- Walt’s for specialized Pacific Northwest mixes
- Indoor Sun Shoppe for some outdoor soil and they’re great and local to Fremont!
- Swansons Nursery for examining products in person
- Dirt Exchange for delivery or bulk pickup
Weed watch: Spanish Bluebells
Spring means the return of Fremont’s most frustrating invasive species. Gleason shared their thoughts on Spanish Bluebells, which have exploded here in Fremont over the last 10 years. You can see them popping up now and soon the purple flowers will be everywhere. Think they’re pretty and nice to have around? They’re actually an invasive species that chokes out native plants.
Manual removal is difficult because bulbs root deep. Gleason suggests a multi-season approach: cover areas with thick cardboard and mulch layers before new shoots grow. This suffocates bulbs and weakens them for eventual manual removal.
The bottom line
This year’s early, confused spring requires vigilance. Pull weeds immediately, mulch to protect against temperature swings, and consider whether your lawn is worth the maintenance or whether alternatives might serve better.
“If you can do an hour a day taking out the little weeds, over time that’s going to be so worth it,” Gleason said.
And for those dealing with crow-torn lawns? Those birds are actually helping by reducing the grub population. The alternative would be dead grass patches anyway, just without the crow theatrics.
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