Florida Landscaping Today

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Chinch Bug Control, Damage and Treatment

By Kurt On May 9, 2009 3 Comments

The chinch bug is the number one pest of  St. Augustine Grass. It will do the most damage to your lawn in a short period of time. If left untreated they will destroy large areas as they multiply. They are found from southern North Carolina south to the Florida Keys, and westward to central Texas. They have also been reported to do damage  in southern California, Mexico, and Hawaii. In Florida they begin to appear in May and continue throughout the summer.

Chinch bugs suck the sap out of the roots and the stems of the grass. At first areas infested will begin to turn yellow in color as irregular patches, then turn reddish brown. Blades start to curl up looking grayish and dead, roots die off as they continue sucking out the juices. Chinch bugs work there way through the healthy turf. They love to live in dry sunny areas that have heat or drought stress. They are found in the middle of a lawn or near and along driveways and side walks working outward.

Description And Development:

Chinch bugs lay their eggs and hatch in as little as one week during the summer. First they appear as bright orange in the Nymph stage, turning dark red as they begin to mature. When fully matured reaching the adult stage they are one - fifth of an inch in length, black with white wings on their back. During this stage is when they do the most damage and can fly to other locations in the lawn.

Monitoring:

I recommend to inspect your lawn at least once a week during the summer months. Early detection can stop a major infestation from occurring and keeping them under control. Walk sunny areas throughout your yard especially along the edges of pavement where they can begin to do damage.  If you notice any signs of a problem get close to the ground and seperate the blades of grass with your hands looking around and under the roots. When exposed to the sun they will run to get out of it and you can see them. In heavy infestations they can be seen crawling over the blades. If you don’t find any chinch bugs it could be a sign of lack of water.

Elimination:

The best way to get rid of them is to treat with a liquid insecticide soaking the area in and around it. Granular does work but needs to be thoroughly watered in right away. Blanket treating your lawn is helpful in controlling them but no guarantee they will not pop up. By monitoring your lawn on a regular basis and knowing how to identify the problem is the best method for control. Following proper lawn maintenance like watering, mowing,and fertilization can reduce the chances of chinch bugs in St. Augustine grass.

Kurt Kmetz

Planting Grass Plugs, Seed, Sod Installation Tips

By Kurt On April 26, 2009 Add Your Comment

Florida Lawns can be grown by planting sod, grass seed or by lawn plugs. If installing a New Lawn or Renovating an existing one, it is important to prepare the area properly before planting. This will help the grass become established quicker.

When you install a new lawn in Florida with grass Sod, grading is beneficial for proper level surface. This is helpful in making sure new sod will grow to it’s full potential, giving you the results you want to see.

Remove all Debris such as Rocks, Dead Grass and Weeds. If it is a New Home then make sure all construction debris is removed before you begin to install your new lawn.

For Existing Homes that need small renovation, a Shovel and Rake is all you need to remove the area needed to be done. For larger area’s a machine such as a “Sod Remover” can be helpful in clearing and preparing for a new lawn. Remember, these machines can be heavy and need to be transported from the rental center to your home and back. So, I recommend using a pickup truck. Always have someone help with the lifting, to be safe.

Another away to prepare before installing new grass is to use a Grass Killer This chemical will eliminate all existing grass and weeds. You will still have remove rocks and dead grass and weeds, but will save you a lot of digging. Just rake out the dead material and rocks and your done and ready to go! Remember, All grass and weed killers are mostly a Non-Selective Herbicide. This means they will kill everything. Avoid any Over Spraying and always follow the directions on the label.

When Starting or Repairing your Florida Lawn by grass Seed, sow it at the recommended rate shown on the label that comes with the bag of seed you are using, cover seed with a thin layer of soil using a rake. Keep the soil moist until the seeds start to germinate. In case of Hot-n-Dry Weather, Cover seeds with a light layer of mulch. After the seeds start to germinate, Do-Not mow grass until it reaches it’s maximum height required.

To avoid damage to your New Lawn, Do Not treat your lawn with weed control for at least 30-days. Watering is required for a certain length of time, so contact your local Extension Service for watering regulations on Newly planted grass in your area.

A healthy beautiful lawn always starts with a good foundation. This will ensure your grass will be grown to it’s full potential. Do it right from the beginning and you will have a lush green and healthy lawn you can be proud of.

Keep on Growing!
Kurt Kmetz