Controlling Chinch bugs should be a priority. Almost every year they are responsible for a lot of damage to lawns. They prefer St. Augustine grass, but will also feast on Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede grass. Chinch bugs like it hot and dry. That’s why the damage occurs in full sun, next to streets, driveways, and sidewalks. Grass damaged by chinch bugs remains attached to its roots, unlike grub damage. Before you start spraying or spreading your insect killer of choice, you need to identify the cause of your problem.
The chinch bug is a surface-dwelling creature and it is easily detected. Remove the top and bottom of a steel coffee can (3 pounds if you can find one). Push it into the soil at the edge of the healthy and damaged grass and then fill it with water. Since they don’t like water they will swim to the top. If you see them, treat them.
Ok, you found chinch bugs. Now we start controlling chinch bugs. Our all-natural products include DE (Diatomaceous Earth), Beneficial Nematodes, or my favorite, orange oil.
On the synthetic side I like Kill-a-Bug (permethrin) and Cyonara spray (lambda-cyhalothrin). As always read and follow the label directions.
Is your lawn in need of an irrigation audit? Hard to think about that after the spring that was. Nice and cool and plenty wet. However, one of the constants of life in North Texas is July is usually drier than a popcorn fart. This parched condition can persist into September and sometimes into November. The lawn, usually, is the first part of a landscape to show drought stress. I say “usually” because of February’s snow there is a lot of new landscaping. If you don’t keep them properly watered they will show stress before an established lawn. Proper watering practices are the key to a healthy lawn and landscape during these hot and dry times. The objective is to keep them alive and looking great and not waste water while doing so.
The goal is to apply 1 inch of water per cycle. When I ask folks “how long does it take to put an inch of water on the lawn” the answer usually goes like this “I water for 10 minutes”. It makes no difference how long you water if you don’t know how much water you are putting on. This is where an “irrigation audit” is needed. You can do this audit yourself.
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