Identification and Management of Chinch Bugs
Identifying Chinch Bugs
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the identification of chinch bugs on your lawn. It can be difficult for you to distinguish the damage caused by these bugs because the effect is usually similar to that caused by drought. Also, it is identical to the damage caused by physiological disorders or specific lawn diseases. The best proof of damage caused by insects is when you detect many chinch bugs on your lawn.
The damage caused by the insects is characterized by irregular patches of either stunted or dead grass surrounded by a toroidal shape of yellowing. The islands of dying grass on your lawn tend to increase in size as the number of bugs increase. The damage caused by the insects can develop so rapidly, especially during summer.
Managing Chinch Bugs
Managing the damage caused by this pest starts with proper care of your lawn. When you keep the thatch to a minimum, you reduce the number of insects and make other modes of control more efficient.
To reduce thatch buildup, you need to adopt proper mowing practices. In this regard, you need to mow your lawn more frequently using mulching mowers. Mulching mowers reduce the need for fertilizers and minimize the buildup of excess thatch.
Chinch bugs survive more in hot and dry environments. Therefore, too little water when watering your lawn can cause problems related to chinch bugs. On the contrary, over-watering your lawn leads to over-saturation of the soil, which leads to oxygen deprivation. Soil with little oxygen cannot sustain microbes needed to decompose thatch.
Contact us if you are having problems identifying and managing the damage caused by chinch bugs and other pests on your lawn. Our specialists will serve you with integrity and honesty and ensure you get continuous evaluations on lawn application and landscaping.
