Armyworms Are Infesting Tulsa Lawns — Here’s What You Need to Know (And Do!)

Armyworms are back — and they’re hitting Tulsa lawns hard. These destructive pests are known for chewing through healthy turf seemingly overnight. You need to act fast if you’re noticing brown patches popping up across your lawn or seeing caterpillar-like larvae wriggling in the grass. These pests don’t wait; the longer you delay, the more damage they’ll cause.

Here’s what you need to know about armyworms — and how Nutri-Green can stop them before they wipe out your lawn.

What Are Armyworms?

Despite the name, armyworms aren’t actually worms; they’re the larvae of a brown moth, and they march across lawns in large numbers, devouring everything in their path. Their destruction is quick, aggressive, and often devastating if not handled early.

What Do Armyworms Look Like?

Armyworm larvae are about 1.5–2 inches long and have distinctive stripes running down their body in shades of green, brown, yellow, or red. Look closely and you’ll see a small, inverted “Y” shape on their head — a dead giveaway.

What Kind of Damage Do They Cause?

Armyworms love to feed on grass blades — and they don’t nibble. They leave behind ragged, chewed edges and patchy, thinning areas that can quickly turn into large, dead zones. If your lawn is suddenly looking scorched, like it’s gone dormant overnight, there’s a good chance armyworms are to blame.

These pests feed in the evening and overnight, making it easy to miss them until the damage is already underway.

Why Is This Happening Now?

Armyworms are most active in late summer and early fall, which is precisely what we’re seeing right now in Tulsa. In recent years, mild winters and hot, humid conditions have allowed populations to explode, and Oklahoma lawns are paying the price.

How Can You Protect Your Lawn?

Acting early can make a big difference. Catching an armyworm infestation before it spreads can help you preserve your lawn.  Here are a few tips for prevention and early detection:

• Inspect your lawn regularly. Look for irregular brown patches, chewed grass blades, or the worms themselves.
• Water, mow, and fertilize regularly. A healthy lawn can better withstand and recover from damage.
• Keep grass at the proper height to discourage moths from laying eggs in your lawn.
• Stay vigilant during late summer and fall. That’s prime feeding time for armyworm larvae.

What To Do If You Have Armyworms

If you’re already seeing signs of damage or spot the larvae crawling through your yard, don’t wait. The faster you respond, the more grass you’ll save.

Some DIY methods include:

• Dish Soap + Water
  A gallon of water with a cup of dish soap, mixed together and then spread over your lawn. This mixture creates an impermeable layer that draws the worms to the surface during the day which makes them a very attractive meal for birds and other natural predators.
• Garlic and Pepper Spray
  A steeped mixture of garlic and red chili flakes steeped in water overnight. This will make your very own homemade insecticide which can be sprayed over the worms to kill them whilst keeping your plants safe.
• Neem Oil
  A classic, natural do-it-all insecticide is also of use when trying to remove army worms from your yard. A neem oil and water combination can be sprayed over your yard both as a preventative measure and also as a method of removing any active worm infestation. The only note with this method is to make sure that you are liberal in its application, especially following any heavy rainfall.
  Pesticides
  You can also purchase DIY sprays and products that target these lawn pests at most garden centers or hardware stores.

While these options might slow the spread, they often fall short in entirely stopping an active infestation.

Nutri-Green Offers Fast, Effective Armyworm Control in Tulsa

When armyworms strike, Nutri-Green strikes back — fast. Our Tulsa lawn care professionals have the tools and treatments to wipe out armyworms before they do more damage.

• Rapid response scheduling
• Targeted treatment that kills larvae fast
• Repair-focused lawn care plans to bring your turf back to life
• Local experts who know how to protect Oklahoma lawns

Don’t let armyworms destroy the lawn you’ve worked so hard to grow.

Contact Nutri-Green today to stop the infestation and restore your lawn.

This blog originally published on May 2, 2022; it has been updated to reflect the most up to date information.