Well the summer is coming fast and so are Chinch Bugs, stop them before they attack your lawn.
Cultural Practices
Cultural practices can influence the susceptibility of lawn grasses to chinch bugs and turf caterpillars. Attention to the following practices can reduce the need for pesticide use, leading to energy conservation within the plant and less potential contamination of the urban environment.Early detection of insects is vital to any management program. Inspect the lawn weekly during spring, summer, and fall months and biweekly during winter months to determine if damage is beginning to occur and if insects are the problem.
Nutrition
Rapid succulent growth, resulting from frequent or high applications of water-soluble inorganic nitrogen fertilizers, acts as an attractant and substantially increases the chances of insect attack. Incidence of damage from these pests can be greatly reduced with applications of minimum amounts of slow-release nitrogen fertilizers in combination with other macro-and micronutrients. Contact us for recommendations and sources of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer for each of the turfgrass species in your particular area of the state.Mowing
Improper mowing, coupled with excessive watering and improper fertilization can cause lawn grasses to develop a thick, spongy mat of live, dead, and dying shoots, stems and roots which accumulate in a layer above the soil surface. This spongy mat, referred to as thatch, is an excellent habitat for chinch bugs and turf caterpillars, and chemically ties up insecticides, therefore reducing their effectiveness. When a serious thatch problem exists, it may be necessary to remove the thatch mechanically (vertical mowing, power raking, etc.). Proper mowing practices can make the grass more tolerant to pests and greatly improve the appearance of a lawn. The best recommendation on mowing is to mow often enough so that no more than one-third of the leaf blade is removed at each mowing.Please contact us with any questions or help you may need to keep your yard free of chinch bugs as well as other problems you may come across at kellerkuts@gmail.com . Thank you and have a great week.
Lee & Veronica
