Yellow Leaves on the Edges of Damage Indicate Chinch Bugs are Active in St Augustine Grass Lawns

One of the distinct characteristics of active chinch bug damage is the presence of yellow leaves along the edges of the damage when Chinch bugs are very active. The leaves are completely yellow and scattered among green leaves along the edges of the damage.

Chinch Bug Activity Increases With Rains

Chinch bugs survive in the lawn all year long.  Although chinch bugs are most damaging in dry areas of the lawn, it is the rain that triggers the  population to expand to damaging numbers – it is as if they needed a drink of water to support their population. If you have a dry spot in your lawn, shortly after the first summer rains you will start to see the yellow leaves that indicate chinch bug activity.

For the DIY’ers

The best method of control is treat with an insecticide – sorry there is no organic method of control. Chinch bugs are small and easy to kill with small amounts of insecticides. Home Depot and Lowes sell various formulations. Sprays are preferred to granules. Treating the whole area is required and focus on the active areas to stop progression of the damage.

For the Customer of A Promised Land Lawn Spraying

You should never see this in your lawn. Chinch Bugs are priority #1 during the summer months. Rarely will Chinch Bug activity reach these levels while being treated on a regular schedule by A Promised Land Lawn Spraying, Inc. However, since Chinch bug can be very damaging to St Augustine grass, please feel free to call should you suspect anything. It is far better to be safe than sorry.