We must combat numerous pests yearly to keep our lawns lush and green for the spring and summer. Between grubs, beetles, cinch bugs, and many more, we often have our hands full, ensuring these harmful and invasive species don’t make our yards into their next meal. One less commonly known pest found under our soil, but not any less destructive, is armyworms. Despite their name, armyworms are a type of caterpillar that eventually develop into moths and are a problem for homeowners all over the United States. Lawns with severe armyworm infestations can see their entire lawn depleted in just a few days. So, we are thrilled to have discovered a hack on TikTok from the content creator RootedLawnCo that is the answer to helping remove these damaging caterpillars from our lawns.
The lawncare influencer RootedLawnCo has more than 4 million views on his video showing how he has brought armyworms hiding in his soil to the surface with a simple solution of soap and water. Although the bio on his profile only says “satisfying lawn videos and lawn care tips,” the TikTok channel has more than 50,000 followers and more than 80,000 on Instagram. If you’re finding signs of armyworms in your lawn — including brown patches across the yard and grass blades that shine translucent from being eaten away — it may be time to try this easy trick to identify and eliminate the problem once and for all.
Using soapy water on armyworms
@rootedlawnco
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♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
In a viral TikTok, RootedLawnCo exhibits how he has drawn armyworms out of the soil so that he may rid the area of these harmful pests. With just soap and water, we see him pour this solution on a patch of grass and watch an armyworm wiggle to the surface. Although the video doesn’t provide much detail, he did answer many questions in the comments. When asked how much soap to use, he responded, “A dab will do.” Another commenter questioned if this kills the armyworms, to which he clarified that no, this won’t kill them and is just a soap test that will reveal if these pests are present.
The soapy water will irritate insects hiding in the soil, forcing them out to relieve that pressure. However, since the soapy mixture is ineffective at killing armyworms, you’ll want another solution to eliminate them. Pesticides with chemicals like Bacillus thuringiensis and Spinosad are fatal to armyworms. But, if you’d like to avoid applying chemicals and insecticides, there are natural remedies you can try instead. Beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms, feed on pest populations when released into the soil. These can often be found in local garden stores or online. Neem oil can also kill armyworms and can be mixed with water and soap for lawn application several times a week. Otherwise, as you pour soap and water on your grass, you can watch these caterpillars rise to the surface and pick them off one by one.
