Chinch bug season is March through November in many parts of Florida. During this time, it is important to be on the lookout for chinch bug damage in your lawn. If you think you have chinch bugs in your lawn, the first step is proper identification since the damage caused by these critters can easily be confused for other insects or turf problems.
You should be able to spot chinch bugs if you look closely - adult chinch bugs are black with white patches on the wings. Check 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. Another option is to use the vacuum method. Use a dust buster or hand-held vacuum cleaner, and pick a spot within the damaged area to suck up the dirt. Vacuum the dirt in this area for two minutes. Then, look at the contents within the vacuum to see if there are any chinch bugs. A third option is the can method. Cut out the top and bottom of a can and insert it into the dirt. Fill the can with water up to the top of the grass. Wait a few minutes and see if chinch bugs float up to the surface of the water.
Chinch bug damage typically occurs in open, sunny areas near sidewalks and driveways as well as in the middle of lawns. The damaged area usually starts small, but when left untreated, the patch will get larger as the chinch bugs move to continue feeding on healthy turf. The speed of the chinch bug damage depends on the density of the bugs and the turf’s overall health.
To avoid a chinch bug invasion, now is a good time to use a preventative treatment on your turf. Also, proper maintenance practices can help eliminate the environment for chinch bugs. First, make sure you mow your St. Augustine grass at a height of 3-4 inches to create healthy turf and eliminate undue stress. Also, water appropriately to avoid dry spots in the lawn.
Finish Pruning Shrubs
It’s important that all shrubs are pruned before the end of the month because the excessive heat in the summer months plus pruning can cause an overly amount of excessive stress on the plant. Also, prune blooming shrubs now to promote abundant flowering during the blooming season. By pruning at this time, blooms will not be jeopardized. Make sure to use sharp equipment and create clean, smooth cuts to encourage rapid healing of wounds. Do not create stubs since this is usually where die back occurs. Avoid tearing the bark when removing large branches.
Continue with Weekly Mowings
Finally, if you haven’t already started, make sure to mow your lawn weekly. Now that the temperatures are heating up, the turf is rapidly growing. Weekly mowings ensure that no more than 1/3 rd of the leaf blade is being cut off at one time. When too much of the blade is cut off, then it can cause stress to the turf.
These simple steps will help get your landscape into summer-ready shape!
Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension - http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh036
