Chinch bugs or just sun burnt?

B

ballrific

500+ Posts
how can I tell on my st. aug? i have an area that is discolored and I think it's just burnt from the hot *** sun but how can you tell if it's chinch bugs or not? it's usually in the same place every year, that's why I don't think it's chinch bugs...
 
how can you tell the difference right now? i've been watching my yard. there's a couple random spots that are in the sun all day. the grass there is pretty much fried. if i hand water it, it comes back. are the bugs viewable?
 
I can't see any bugs; it's basically just 1 spot, same spot every year but it's not the only spot exposed in the sun. I think it's the sun b/c all the houses on my street have some areas like that or their whole yard is fried b/c they said screw it.

It looks like "hay" basically but there are a few specs of green mixed in...I thought chinch bug spots were more circular but I have no idea, hence the post.
 
My vote is for sunburned. I have a couple areas of St. Aug where my sprinkler heads aren't doing their job and the grass looks like you describe.
 
Get your hand in there, pull up the dead grass and dig a little. If it's chinch bugs, you'll see them.

My guess is that the lawn just got fried if it's the same spot year after year. I would till up that spot, add soil, and then replant in the fall. Then add compost a few weeks later to further amend the soil. Sometimes a spot just gets too much sun and the dirt can't hold any moisture. If it's in a nice spot for a garden or flowerbed, then consider that. Sometimes it's just better to punt and plant something that will do better there.
 
check out this site for good adviceThe Link

to see if they are chinch bugs use a coffee can with the bottom cut out. place that on the edge of green and dead grass and fill it up with water while holding it down for a little while. the bugs will float up.
there won't be chinch bugs in teh dead grass they will have moved on to green stuff.

also, dig up a patch and look for grub worms.

if you are still not sure, take some photos and samples to a nursery and hope its not take all patch.

I would recommend going organic, its been great for my yard, a little work up front but much better long term.
 
you could have the same issue as me. when the builder laid the sod, they did not put a good thick layer of soil on top of the packed clay/rock cap. in the areas with little/no soil, the water basically runs off and doesn't saturate to the roots.

I treat the issue by getting GOOD topsoil (the garden/potting soil) and top dress those areas and water it in.
 
Grab a handfull of the "dead" grass, if it pulls up easily because there is no root system, it is chinch bugs. If it is tougher to pull up, your roots are still alive and just need to be watered.
 
It pulls up easily but I think that's b/c it's just burnt mulch in certain areas. I dug around yesterday and didn't see any little bugs. But there are little specks of grean trying to come back within the discolored patch, not sure what that means..
 
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