how to repair lawn after chinch bug damage

Suppose your lawn has been ruined by chinch bugs, the easiest way to fix this would be to do the following best practices:

• Water more often
• Use turfgrass that’s resistant to chinch bugs
• Apply pesticides
• Resod damaged areas
• Fertilize new grass
• Overseed damaged areas with perennial ryegrasses, fescues, and similar grass types

Full Answer

What to do if your lawn has chinch bugs?

When planning chinch bug damage repair, consider a combination of grass seed types that are resistant to insects and pests. These more robust breeds of grass can help prevent chinch bugs from obtaining a foothold in the lawn to begin with. Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York.

Does grass grow back after chinch bug treatment?

Without photosynthesis, no new growth is possible at the root or blade level. If you successfully treat the grass to eradicate the pests, you should sod the damaged area to create a lush lawn. Regardless of the damage, those patchy areas are often filled in by weeds after successful chinch bug treatment.

Are chinch bugs damaging my Turf?

A: Sorry to hear about your turf troubles, which very well might be a classic case of chinch bug damage. Fortunately, you can banish the bugs and bring your lawn back to health. The common chinch bug ( blissus leucopterus) is found nationwide, but normally at a rate of less than 10 to 15 bugs per square foot of lawn.

How do you recover from chinch bug damage?

Recovery From Damage Slightly damaged turf will recover rather quickly if lightly fertilized and watered regularly. Heavily infested lawns may have significant plant mortality because of the toxic effect of chinch bug saliva and reseeding will be necessary.

Will grass recover after chinch bugs?

Plant damage results not only from withdrawal of sap, but from chinch bug saliva, which contain substances toxic to the plant. Drought or heat stress may cause similar browning of turf, but proper watering will quickly rejuvenate the lawn. Turf injured by chinch bugs will not recover as quickly.

How do I grow grass after chinch bugs?

1:343:35Will Grass Grow Back After Chinch Bugs? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInstead of waiting for your grass to spread into the damaged area fill the area with sod to preventMoreInstead of waiting for your grass to spread into the damaged area fill the area with sod to prevent weeds. Although sodding is more expensive than seeding.

Can chinch bugs be transferred by lawn mowers?

Can chinch bugs be transferred by lawn mowers? Chinch bugs cannot be transferred by lawn mowers since they tend to avoid the upper sections of the grass blades and stay at the base of your turf.

What is the best way to treat chinch bugs?

If you know you have chinch bugs, you can control them by treating your lawn with Ortho® Bugclear™ Lawn Insect Killer. The formula kills chinch bugs and other listed insects by contact, above and below the soil, and creates a bug barrier in your lawn for 3 months.

What time of year do chinch bugs come out?

The pests are most active in late June through early September. Damage typically occurs in the sunniest areas of your lawn, especially when the weather is hot or dry. Thick, lush lawns are especially prone to chinch bug damage as the thick thatch offers a great place for adult chinch bugs to feed and lay eggs.

What is the best time to spray for chinch bugs?

summerStart on the edge and work your way in. Applying in early summer will help kill the active nymphs before they mature into adults. Chinch bugs mate quickly so the population can grow very fast. Killing them early will help prevent damage to your lawn later.

Why do lawns get chinch bugs?

Chinch bug damage may occur in open, sunny areas near sidewalks and driveways, but also in the middle of lawns. The damage is often confused with drought or frost stress. Other factors, such as disease, nematodes, nutritional imbalances, and drought can cause off-color areas to occur in lawns.

Should I cut my grass before spraying for bugs?

You should cut your grass before spraying for bugs because it helps most of the insecticide get to the stems where the insects are hiding. It also prevents the bugs from having shelter from the insecticide. Spraying after you mow is a better alternative for pollinating insects, too.

How often should you treat for chinch bugs?

every two monthsWhen grass starts to turn green in the spring, apply Amdro Quick Kill Lawn Insect Killer Granules every two months. Use a push or handheld spreader at a rate of 1.2 pounds per 500 square feet, and then water lightly.

Can chinch bugs survive winter?

Chinch Bugs survive the winter as adults seeking shelter from the cold and snow under shrubs, hedges and leaf litter. In the latter part of the spring (about the time the forsythia blooms fall or when Weed Man is treating your lawn for dandelions) they come out of hiding and venture into the lawn.

How do I get rid of chinch bugs in my yard naturally?

To treat chinch bugs without chemicals, start by raking your lawn, then vacuuming it to try and catch the infestation before it spreads. Alternatively, spray your lawn with a mixture of 2 ½ tablespoons of mild dish soap for every gallon of water on a cool morning or evening to minimize any damage to your plants.

What does chinch bug damage look like on a lawn?

Chinch Bug Signs and Symptoms Particularly in hot, dry weather, small yellow patches will gradually become large sections of damaged turf. You can visually inspect the grass in the suspected area for signs of chinch bugs. At an early age, they can be light red to orange in color with a white stripe on their abdomen.

What kills chinch bugs?

Most turf-type pesticides will kill chinch bugs, but check the label to be sure. Apply a pesticide, such as BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer for Soil and Turf (available from Amazon ), to the turf following application instructions carefully.

How many chinch bugs are in a square foot of lawn?

The common chinch bug ( blissus leucopterus) is found nationwide, but normally at a rate of less than 10 to 15 bugs per square foot of lawn.

What grasses do the most damage?

Though found in all types of turfgrass, they do the most damage to warm-season species, such as tall fescue, bermudagrass, bentgrass, zoysiagrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. They destroy by inserting their razor-sharp beaks into a blade of grass and then sucking out its natural fluids, causing the grass to dehydrate and die.

Does pesticide kill chinch bugs?

Note that pesticides will kill chinch bugs but not their eggs, so some products require two separate applications: the first to kill existing bugs and a second, several weeks later, to kill any that hatched from eggs laid before the initial application.

When is the best time to dethatch?

Spring is the best time to dethatch, and you can hire a landscaping company to do it or do it yourself with a yard-size dethatcher, such as Greenworks 14-Inch Corded Dethatcher (available from Amazon ).

Does cutting grass make it more prone to infestations?

While mowing keeps your lawn looking smooth and lush, cutting more than one-third of the grass blade stresses the lawn, which weakens it and makes it more prone to future infestations.

Can you reseed after chinch bugs?

If you’re using a two-application chemical treatment, you needn’t wait until the second treatment to reseed—you can reseed immediately after the initial dose of pesticide.

What Is a Chinch Bug?

Chinch bugs are tiny, hard-to-see bugs that thrive in the heat of the south. When Chinch bugs are young they are red, as they grow to an adult they turn black. As they mature they gain white spots in the shape of an X on their back. Adults can grow to be a quarter-inch long.

How to Recognize Chinch Bugs Damage Your Lawn

You can find chinch bugs within the thatch layer (the layer between the grass and the soil). However, when there is a large population, they can be found resting on leaf blades or crawling across the lawn.

How to Prevent Damage From Chinch Bugs

To prevent these pesky bugs from feeding on your lawn there are a few simple things you can do. An important rule of thumb is to keep your lawn healthy. Actively growing lawns are better able to withstand weeds and lawn insects compared to lawns that are weak or slow-growing.

How to Kill Chinch Bugs in Your Lawn

If your lawn is currently infested with chinch bugs they can be difficult to get rid of. Chinch bugs have the ability to develop resistance to insecticides. If that happens the eggs can still hatch and produce another generation that can feed on your grass. If you have an active infestation, contact a professional.

The Lawn Pest Control Specialist of Orlando, FL

If you feel like you have tried everything, but the chinch bugs keep coming back consider hiring a professional. Active Environmental is the lawn pest control specialist in the Orlando area. We can keep your lawn healthy to prevent chinch bugs or kill them off your lawn for good. Active Environmental takes care of all of your lawn’s needs.

How to get rid of chinch bugs in grass?

In addition, fertilization and regular watering can help damaged grass recover from the chinch bug damage.

What does it mean when a chinch bug dies?

While a very small number of these bugs can live on your property without causing harm, an infestation can cause patches of the lawn to wither down to a pale yellow, then die. Chinch bugs have a body that’s dark red (which means the bug is younger) or black (an older bug) with a white stripe across its back and transparent white wings.

What temperature do chinch bugs grow?

The University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program explains that chinch bugs tend to thrive in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long do you wait to water a chinch bug?

Press the metal can into the ground near the edge of a damaged spot; then, fill the can with water and watch for at least 10 minutes. Chinch bugs will rise out of the soil and float to the surface; make sure to note whether they are alive or dead, and how many are present in the metal can.

What are some of the creatures that can cause harsh reactions in an average lawn?

That said, there are a few creatures that can cause unexpectedly harsh reactions in an average lawn, including chinch bugs.

Can chinch bugs be in my lawn?

Initially, you may not be sure that lawn damage is the result of chinch bugs. In this case, you’ll want to try to identify chinch bugs in the damaged grass before treatment. Sometimes, this can be managed by examining the boundary between the damaged lawn and the healthy lawn; simply turning over some dirt can produce chinch nymphs and full-grown bugs. Look up an image beforehand so that you can be sure of what you’re identifying.

Can chinch bugs grow back?

This can spell disaster for your lawn, made worse by environmental conditions like drought or poor soil composition. While grass can grow back after a chinch bug invasion, you will need to exert a lot of effort to ensure it does.

How to keep chinch bugs out of my lawn?

Proper cultural controls keep chinch bugs from infesting your lawn again. Do not over-water your lawn -- a deep watering once a week is enough for most grass species. Inspect your thatch layer periodically. You should dethatch the lawn with a vertical mower if your thatch is thicker than 1 inch -- this barrier to moisture and pesticides makes it easy for chinch bugs to move into your lawn. Mow your lawn once a week during the growing season and keep the mower's blades sharp. Remove approximately one-third of the grass' height during each mowing session.

How long does it take for chinch bugs to heal?

Because of the chinch bugs' toxic saliva running through the damaged grass, it may take several weeks to see turf recovery. Advertisement.

What is the bug that pierces grass?

At around 1/5 inch long chinch bugs pierce grass blades to access the nutritious fluids. As their saliva enters the grass, root moisture cannot move throughout the turf's internal vessels, causing widespread damage. Grass can only grow back if the infestation is not severe. Advertisement.

How often should I dethatch my lawn?

Mow your lawn once a week during the growing season and keep the mower's blades sharp.

Why is my grass turning brown?

Your grass takes on a widespread yellow to brown color as the turf slowly dies back. Typically, your turf cannot recover from this damage because the grass blades can no longer function as energy producers. Without photosynthesis, no new growth is possible at the root or blade level.

Can chinch bug seedlings grow faster?

Because these pests prefer sunny spots, damaged areas are prime targets for weed seed germination -- they can grow seedlings faster than the grass can recover.