That brown patch spreading across your St. Augustine in the heat of summer might not be a watering problem.
A spreading brown patch in a Walker or Denham Springs lawn can have several causes, including drought stress, disease, and insects. Chinch bugs are one possibility in St. Augustine, especially in hot, sunny areas. Confirm that the insects are present before choosing a treatment.
They hide in the thatch, suck the juice out of the blades, and inject a toxin. In this heat they breed fast.
The Telltale Signs
Chinch bug damage often appears in hot spots along sidewalks and driveways. It can resemble drought stress or other lawn problems, so watering response alone is not a diagnosis.
Part the grass where the green meets the brown and look at the soil line. Little black and white bugs. Or the coffee-can test: push a can into the ground, fill it with water, wait. Chinch bugs float.
Why Louisiana Lawns Get Hit Hard
Chinch bugs favor hot, dry conditions and thick thatch in St. Augustine. Mow at the right height, water according to the lawn's needs, and base fertilizer on the grass and soil-test recommendations. Excess fertilizer is not a substitute for diagnosis.
What Actually Stops Them
Caught early, a targeted treatment knocks them down. Wait too long and you are replacing sod. If you are not sure what is eating your yard, that is what I am here for.
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