Cinch bugs in St. Augustine lawn

15 years ago

Help! I have a 7 year old St. Augustine lawn that I have had lots of trouble with. In years past we have had damage from both cinch bugs and fungus, and have lost lots of turf to each of them. Last year we had a lawn service spray the yard, and while we didn't have fungus or bugs I didn't feel good about using all of those chemicals on my yard. This year I am trying to make the change to organic lawn care. In February I top dressed the yard and flower beds with compost. In late February I put out CGM. I'm cutting the yard at 4", and watering only once weekly thus far, although I will probably have to water more often soon, as temps are now in the 90's.

I have an area of yard that is out by the road that is the sunniest, hottest part of my yard. I've had chinch bugs out there before and now I've got them again. This part of the yard has some thatch build-up, not bad but more than the rest of the yard. Does anyone have any advice on how I can treat the cinch bugs organically? I really don't want to use pesticides but am also don't want to have to replace sod again, as it is prohibitively expensive. I understand that my thatch is probably contributing to the problem, so any ideas on getting rid of that will be welcome too. I live in Coastal South Carolina, and my yard is very sandy with good drainage. I never get standing water. Sorry so long and thanks in advance.

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Comments (5)

lou_spicewood_tx
15 years ago
You can try beneficial nematodes. Best time is to use it in the during the break during the storms so they can get washed down into the ground.

Here is a link that might be useful: Beneficial Nematodes
texasredhead
15 years ago
St.Augustine is not really subject to thatch. What ever you do, do not try to dethatch St. Augustine as the machine will tear the sod out of the ground. As far as treatment for chinch bugs, unless your neighboirs treat for them also you will continue to have infestations so you might want to make 2 or 3 treatments with beneficial nematodes.
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Yes I'd like to see the pictures. You were watering far too long at first and then switched to far too frequently. Here's more on watering. For most lawns you cannot go cold turkey from new grass to mature watering, but St Aug and bermuda are much more tolerant of the switch. Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, sprinkler and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the daytime air temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so it should work for you. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall.
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brizzyintx
15 years ago
Okay. This is the third time this year I've read about chinch bugs in St. A. What are they? What are the signs? How are they prevented?

Thanks.
nandina
15 years ago
Brizzy, I will attempt to answer your question. First, do a search for "organic controls + chinch bug". Some good information to be found there. Now some additional thoughts:

1. It is important that organic gardeners study their property daily looking for and treating problems as spotted. Every type of mowed lawn grass, northern or southern, provides a welcoming home to chinch bug. They are not fussy.

2. The three common ways that they are transported into a yard is they are blown on the wind from a neighboring property or arrive on mowing equipment by contract lawn care companies. However, the most common way is on southern grown, balled and burlaped shrubs and trees. Usually the first signs of lawn cinch bug will be spotted during the summer heat just outside newly established landscaped beds. There is nothing you can do to prevent cinch bug from camping on your lawn except to be alert for the tell-tale signs and begin treatment early.

3. Watch your lawn very carefully for spots that appear to be "thinning", perhaps turning a bit brown. Chinch bug can easily be identified on hands and knees at high noon on a sunny day when they are most active and visible. Run a hand over the suspect lawn area, parting the grass and if the problem is chinch bug you should see zillions of very tiny, shiny black bugs running around. There is no mistaking them. On-line searching should be very helpful for identifying and treating chinch bug organically.
ronalawn82
15 years ago
stbonner, it is very easy to confuse cause and effect when it comes to chinch bugs. The insect favors the drier parts of the lawn and will migrate to those areas where irrigation does not reach. One treats for chinch bugs and fails to recognise the sprinkler shortcomings and the problem will recur in times of drought. The insect punctures the sheath part of the leaf and sucks the plant sap. Because it can be so well protected I seriously doubt that an oil spray will get it in its adult stage (black) though it might have some effect on the young stages (red). Both stages will have the white/silvery marking on the back. If I had to deal with St. Augustine turf under an organic regimen, I'd make sure that the sprinkler coverage is total and at least once a month I'd monitor for insects by soap flushing. In the days of organo phosphates, if one got 10 to 12 insects (all stages) per sq.ft. it was time to spray. In these times, I'd shampoo the lawn with a dishwashing liquid (containing lemon juice) once a month as a preventative measure and if I found 5 to 6 chinch bugs per sq. ft. I'd treat with something curative.
Hope this helps.

Cinch bugs in St. Augustine lawn

Comments (5)

lou_spicewood_tx

texasredhead

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