Landscaping in July is all about beating the heat. Summer is a tough time when it comes to the landscape because both growth and pests are in abundance.
Landscaping in July is all about beating the heat. Summer is a tough time when it comes to the landscape because both growth and pests are abundant during this season. The following steps should be taken to ensure the landscape is healthy all summer long. Fertilize Turf
Now is the time to fertilize your turf - use one that's high in potassium, which is the third number listed on the fertilizer label (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium). This element helps make the roots of the turf stronger, enhancing the ability to resist drought, wear and tear, diseases/pests and extreme temperatures. When applying fertilizer, make sure to read and follow the guidelines set forth on the label.
Check for Pests & Disease in Turf
The warmer temperatures can bring about turf damage caused by chinch bugs or fungus. The damage of these pests can be seen as brown patches in the turf that get larger if left untreated. Chinch bugs like to feed on water-stressed, dry turf. Fungus takes over, depending on the type, when the turf is suffering from heat, drought and high humidity or during the heat of the summer when temperatures remain high even throughout the night. Both chinch bugs and fungus can cause harm and ultimately kill the turf.
To determine if you have insect damage or fungus damage, first check the overall appearance of the area. Insect damage is typically less uniform and spottier than fungus damage. Another way to determine if your turf issues are due to pesky critters or a frustrating fungus is to look for chinch bugs since they can been seen with the naked eye. Adult chinch bugs are black with white patches on the wings. Look at the soil surface and base of the grass blade. Also, pull out a few blades of grass, take off the bottom leaves and see if there are any chinch bugs. Try this in a few spots within the damaged area. If chinch bugs are not present, then your turf damage is likely due to a fungus. While proper cultural measures are important to avoid such damage, these issues can be treated by an insecticide or fungicide. Make sure to treat only the affected areas.
Check for Pests on Ornamental Plants
Now is the time when pests, such as lace bugs, can be found causing damage to azaleas and other ornamental plants. If lace bugs are the culprit, then the evidence is small white dots on the leaves of the plant (pictured). Heavy infestations of lace bugs can reduce growth or even kill the plant. To help control this pest, spray the plant forcefully with water.
Besides these steps, it’s also important to continue to mow turf weekly, regularly check your irrigation, and prepare the landscape for hurricane season, as discussed in previous articles. If you take these simple steps, then your landscape will be the envy of all your neighbors!