Chinch Bug Control, Damage and Treatment
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
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February Florida ST. Augustine Grass Lawn Care
With one more month of cold winter weather left in Florida, now is time to begin preparing for a healthy vigorous lawn for spring and summer.
Many areas in Florida have experienced cold weather and freezing temperatures. Where I live, we have not had a freeze but we have had frost occur on our lawns. Cold weather and wind will cause stress and damage on ST. Augustine grasses.
How to Check For Cold Weather Damage To Your Lawn:
To check to see if your lawn has been damaged by the cold weather, begin by walking your lawn. First sign will be the blades turn purple to black and will become brown. This “Does Not” mean the roots are dead and you will loose your lawn. it should bounce back when warm weather returns.
Areas that have crabgrass will surely turn brown, but unfortunately have not died off leaving just the Saint Augustine grass by itself. If those areas are mostly crabgrass, you might consider replacing it with new sod or Saint Augustine Grass Plugs in March. Before laying down sod or planting grass plugs, treat those areas with Weed Grass Killer such as “Round-Up weed killer”. Remember to watch for over-spraying for the chemical is Non-Selective meaning, the whole treated area will be killed and it will kill everything! If these areas are large, it can be expensive if you have to replace half your lawn. If the areas are small and in spots, this is a good way to keep un-wanted grass from spreading during the summer. Also, the thicker your lawn is, the better chance it has to choke out crabgrass.
Mid-February is a good time to remove Thatch.
Recommended is to use a Vertical Mower for “Verti-Cutting”, which is the most common method for Thatch Removal. A Vertical Mower has evenly spaced knife-like blades, which revolve perpendicularly to the turf grass. The blades slice into the thatch and lift it up. This allows water and fertilizer to reach the soil better. I recommend to hire a professional to do this job to be done correctly. Plus it is strenuous and you will most likely have a truck load or more of thatch to be hauled away.
When to fertilize St. Augustine Grass:
The end of February is a good time to begin fertilizing your lawn. I recommend using a “Slow-Release Granular Fertilizer”. To begin growing a green healthy turf with a good foundation for the summer, You can apply a Weed ‘n’ Feed at this time of the year to get a jump start on those ugly weeds. But there is a window on when to stop using it. Don’t wait until it is too late because it can burn or kill your lawn. Always follow directions on the label for the rate of application as with any type of fertilizer you use. If you don’t have a lot of weeds, use a “Liquid Weed Killer” for ST. Augustine grass for spot weeding. Once again, Always read the label for proper rate of spraying.
Follow these tips to achieve a beautiful healthy lawn full of thickness and rapid growth. Spring is just around the corner so begin planning now for the lawn you want to have for the whole neighborhood to see.
