We moved into our new house 1.5 years ago and have had a few different
companies service our lawn... the only thing I've done is maintance
(mow, trim, edge, garden, etc). I recently decided, after talking to
a neighbor, to fertilize and treat my yard myself. I'm having a
problem with a major part of my front lawn, and I'm concerned it's a
insect problem:

An area, starting about 10% into the lawn to 70% (going from the
street to the house) is dying in a patchy way. The grass isn't brown,
it's flat out dead in spots (very easy to grab a clump of it). I
thought it was a bad spray (because I'd had problems with the last
company) so I raked up the dead stuff, fertilized last week, and
stepped up the frequency of watering.

A few people have asked me if I had chinch bugs and I kept saying no,
but with that many people asking, I'm starting to think I might. How
can you tell if you have them? Some areas are no bigger than a 1'x1'
area... is pretty big (5'x5'). From what I saw in some chinch bug
pictures (on scotts.com), it shows like they take over a yard in a
wave... not patchy which is what mine is. Also, scotts.com said they
start from pavement... the closest they've gotten is 5' from the
street.

I can take a picture and post on my website if that would help. I'm
just really concerned about losing my yard.

Thanks in advance,
-AC

"Andrew Connell" wrote in message
om...
We moved into our new house 1.5 years ago and have had a few different
companies service our lawn... the only thing I've done is maintance
(mow, trim, edge, garden, etc). I recently decided, after talking to
a neighbor, to fertilize and treat my yard myself. I'm having a
problem with a major part of my front lawn, and I'm concerned it's a
insect problem:

An area, starting about 10% into the lawn to 70% (going from the
street to the house) is dying in a patchy way. The grass isn't brown,
it's flat out dead in spots (very easy to grab a clump of it). I
thought it was a bad spray (because I'd had problems with the last
company) so I raked up the dead stuff, fertilized last week, and
stepped up the frequency of watering.

A few people have asked me if I had chinch bugs and I kept saying no,
but with that many people asking, I'm starting to think I might. How
can you tell if you have them? Some areas are no bigger than a 1'x1'
area... is pretty big (5'x5'). From what I saw in some chinch bug
pictures (on scotts.com), it shows like they take over a yard in a
wave... not patchy which is what mine is. Also, scotts.com said they
start from pavement... the closest they've gotten is 5' from the
street.

I can take a picture and post on my website if that would help. I'm
just really concerned about losing my yard.

Thanks in advance,
-AC

A photo would help as would your approx location. From what you have said it
doesn't sound like chinchbug to me.

When did you first notice the problem? Have you had any animals digging in
the yard?

Peter H

(Andrew Connell) wrote:
We moved into our new house 1.5 years ago and have had a few different
companies service our lawn... the only thing I've done is maintance
(mow, trim, edge, garden, etc). I recently decided, after talking to
a neighbor, to fertilize and treat my yard myself. I'm having a
problem with a major part of my front lawn, and I'm concerned it's a
insect problem:

An area, starting about 10% into the lawn to 70% (going from the
street to the house) is dying in a patchy way. The grass isn't brown,
it's flat out dead in spots (very easy to grab a clump of it). I
thought it was a bad spray (because I'd had problems with the last
company) so I raked up the dead stuff, fertilized last week, and
stepped up the frequency of watering.

A few people have asked me if I had chinch bugs and I kept saying no,
but with that many people asking, I'm starting to think I might. How
can you tell if you have them? Some areas are no bigger than a 1'x1'
area... is pretty big (5'x5'). From what I saw in some chinch bug
pictures (on scotts.com), it shows like they take over a yard in a
wave... not patchy which is what mine is. Also, scotts.com said they
start from pavement... the closest they've gotten is 5' from the
street.

I can take a picture and post on my website if that would help. I'm
just really concerned about losing my yard.

Thanks in advance,
-AC

Chichbug control isn't real expensive. Just go ahead and
treat for them.

--
GO# 40
----------------------------------------------------------------------
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Thanks for replying. I noticed the problem towards the end of
February/beginning of March. I guess the location would help:
Jacksonville, FL (St. Augustine grass). I didn't push the issue too
much with my treatment company because other yards were just coming
back from being dormant, but now 90% of the yards on the street at
back to normal, the other 10% being those who don't take care of it.
And no, no animals in the yard.

Pictures of the yard are he
http://aconnell.com/lawn/

Pic #1:
Shows the worst part... biggest patch and it's proximity to the
street. You'll notice that the grass next to the street is thick and
lush.

Pic #2: Long shot from the street all the way up to the boxwoods in
front of the house.

Pic #3: Closeup after raking a bunch of the dead grass out.

Pic #4: Shot of yard. The wost part, in the first image, is seen at
the top-left part of the yard (near the telephone box).

Pic #5: This shows what I was trying to say in the first posting. The
area about 1-2' from the street and driveway are fine, as are the
first 10-15' from the house. The area in the middle is patchy.

Any ideas? (BTW: Yard was cut yesterday... that's one reason why the
street looks a little close... I slipped and might have burned it a
bit).

-AC

"Peter H" wrote in message le.rogers.com...
"Andrew Connell" wrote in message
om...
We moved into our new house 1.5 years ago and have had a few different
companies service our lawn... the only thing I've done is maintance
(mow, trim, edge, garden, etc). I recently decided, after talking to
a neighbor, to fertilize and treat my yard myself. I'm having a
problem with a major part of my front lawn, and I'm concerned it's a
insect problem:

An area, starting about 10% into the lawn to 70% (going from the
street to the house) is dying in a patchy way. The grass isn't brown,
it's flat out dead in spots (very easy to grab a clump of it). I
thought it was a bad spray (because I'd had problems with the last
company) so I raked up the dead stuff, fertilized last week, and
stepped up the frequency of watering.

A few people have asked me if I had chinch bugs and I kept saying no,
but with that many people asking, I'm starting to think I might. How
can you tell if you have them? Some areas are no bigger than a 1'x1'
area... is pretty big (5'x5'). From what I saw in some chinch bug
pictures (on scotts.com), it shows like they take over a yard in a
wave... not patchy which is what mine is. Also, scotts.com said they
start from pavement... the closest they've gotten is 5' from the
street.

I can take a picture and post on my website if that would help. I'm
just really concerned about losing my yard.

Thanks in advance,
-AC

A photo would help as would your approx location. From what you have said it
doesn't sound like chinchbug to me.

When did you first notice the problem? Have you had any animals digging in
the yard?

Peter H

"Andrew Connell" wrote in message
om...
Thanks for replying. I noticed the problem towards the end of
February/beginning of March. I guess the location would help:
Jacksonville, FL (St. Augustine grass). I didn't push the issue too
much with my treatment company because other yards were just coming
back from being dormant, but now 90% of the yards on the street at
back to normal, the other 10% being those who don't take care of it.
And no, no animals in the yard.

Pictures of the yard are he
http://aconnell.com/lawn/

Pic #1:
Shows the worst part... biggest patch and it's proximity to the
street. You'll notice that the grass next to the street is thick and
lush.

Pic #2: Long shot from the street all the way up to the boxwoods in
front of the house.

Pic #3: Closeup after raking a bunch of the dead grass out.

Pic #4: Shot of yard. The wost part, in the first image, is seen at
the top-left part of the yard (near the telephone box).

Pic #5: This shows what I was trying to say in the first posting. The
area about 1-2' from the street and driveway are fine, as are the
first 10-15' from the house. The area in the middle is patchy.

Any ideas? (BTW: Yard was cut yesterday... that's one reason why the
street looks a little close... I slipped and might have burned it a
bit).

-AC

"Peter H" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
"Andrew Connell" wrote in message
om...
We moved into our new house 1.5 years ago and have had a few different
companies service our lawn... the only thing I've done is maintance
(mow, trim, edge, garden, etc). I recently decided, after talking to
a neighbor, to fertilize and treat my yard myself. I'm having a
problem with a major part of my front lawn, and I'm concerned it's a
insect problem:

An area, starting about 10% into the lawn to 70% (going from the
street to the house) is dying in a patchy way. The grass isn't brown,
it's flat out dead in spots (very easy to grab a clump of it). I
thought it was a bad spray (because I'd had problems with the last
company) so I raked up the dead stuff, fertilized last week, and
stepped up the frequency of watering.

A few people have asked me if I had chinch bugs and I kept saying no,
but with that many people asking, I'm starting to think I might. How
can you tell if you have them? Some areas are no bigger than a 1'x1'
area... is pretty big (5'x5'). From what I saw in some chinch bug
pictures (on scotts.com), it shows like they take over a yard in a
wave... not patchy which is what mine is. Also, scotts.com said they
start from pavement... the closest they've gotten is 5' from the
street.

I can take a picture and post on my website if that would help. I'm
just really concerned about losing my yard.

Thanks in advance,
-AC

A photo would help as would your approx location. From what you have
said it
doesn't sound like chinchbug to me.

When did you first notice the problem? Have you had any animals digging
in
the yard?

Peter H

I'm Canadian and not familiar w/ your grasses or pests there in Florida, but
I'd bet that it's an insect problem of some description and most likely a
surface feeder.

I'd try a broadspectrum insecticide. You could purchase one that included in
a fertilizer and lay it down. Be careful to follow the instructions as you
don't want it going down too heavily.

The photos are good quality and perhaps someone who's familiar w/ your turf
there in Fla can help.

Peter H

Could it be grubs?
Looks like my lawn and I have grubs. Turn some turf over and I could
see the 3/4" white grubs.
I treated 1 week ago. I'm in massachusetts.

Steve






On 27 Apr 2003 15:59:56 -0700, (Andrew Connell)
wrote:

We moved into our new house 1.5 years ago and have had a few different
companies service our lawn... the only thing I've done is maintance
(mow, trim, edge, garden, etc). I recently decided, after talking to
a neighbor, to fertilize and treat my yard myself. I'm having a
problem with a major part of my front lawn, and I'm concerned it's a
insect problem:

An area, starting about 10% into the lawn to 70% (going from the
street to the house) is dying in a patchy way. The grass isn't brown,
it's flat out dead in spots (very easy to grab a clump of it). I
thought it was a bad spray (because I'd had problems with the last
company) so I raked up the dead stuff, fertilized last week, and
stepped up the frequency of watering.

A few people have asked me if I had chinch bugs and I kept saying no,
but with that many people asking, I'm starting to think I might. How
can you tell if you have them? Some areas are no bigger than a 1'x1'
area... is pretty big (5'x5'). From what I saw in some chinch bug
pictures (on scotts.com), it shows like they take over a yard in a
wave... not patchy which is what mine is. Also, scotts.com said they
start from pavement... the closest they've gotten is 5' from the
street.

I can take a picture and post on my website if that would help. I'm
just really concerned about losing my yard.

Thanks in advance,
-AC

I'll check for grubs tonight... thanks for the idea. I also talked to
someone I work with who said his neighborhood was being hit with a
St.Aug grass fungus. The fungus turns the grass yellow and then dies.
Then the grass doesn't re-grow... EXACTLY my problem.

I can take some blades to my local ACE Hardware store and they can
identify it. If so, treatment is water, then spread special granules,
and water again in 24hrs. My friend said his yard started to recover
in 1-2 weeks.

-AC

Pop wrote in message . ..
Could it be grubs?
Looks like my lawn and I have grubs. Turn some turf over and I could
see the 3/4" white grubs.
I treated 1 week ago. I'm in massachusetts.

Steve






On 27 Apr 2003 15:59:56 -0700, (Andrew Connell)
wrote:

We moved into our new house 1.5 years ago and have had a few different
companies service our lawn... the only thing I've done is maintance
(mow, trim, edge, garden, etc). I recently decided, after talking to
a neighbor, to fertilize and treat my yard myself. I'm having a
problem with a major part of my front lawn, and I'm concerned it's a
insect problem:

An area, starting about 10% into the lawn to 70% (going from the
street to the house) is dying in a patchy way. The grass isn't brown,
it's flat out dead in spots (very easy to grab a clump of it). I
thought it was a bad spray (because I'd had problems with the last
company) so I raked up the dead stuff, fertilized last week, and
stepped up the frequency of watering.

A few people have asked me if I had chinch bugs and I kept saying no,
but with that many people asking, I'm starting to think I might. How
can you tell if you have them? Some areas are no bigger than a 1'x1'
area... is pretty big (5'x5'). From what I saw in some chinch bug
pictures (on scotts.com), it shows like they take over a yard in a
wave... not patchy which is what mine is. Also, scotts.com said they
start from pavement... the closest they've gotten is 5' from the
street.

I can take a picture and post on my website if that would help. I'm
just really concerned about losing my yard.

Thanks in advance,
-AC

hi.

my lawn looks exactly the same. in the dry yellow dead patches i put some
soil down since it was lower than the rest of the lawn. i also planted some
seed. i always hear people mention chinc bugs and grubs. let me know if
you determine your bug? i live in southern ontario. would it be posible to
look for bugs now?

someone told me to cut out both ends of a can and place on grass where the
dead meets the living grass. fill with water and wait 10-15 minutes and any
bugs will float to the surface.

i am going to put some weed n' feed down soon. Question: when should i use
insecticide? before, after or at the same time as i weed and feed?

SaM

Followup to my problem (hope this helps others).

I took a few affected blades of grass to my local garden center, they
immediately identified it as a fungus. Per their recomendation, I
applied "Hi-Yield Fungicide granunes with Balyeton". The bag says it
covers 3,000 sqft, but I used the curative application... only
covering 1,500 sqft. I applied it 6 days ago and I can already see an
improvement. Some areas may need additional treatment, but that's
exactly what the garden center said. His specific instructions:

Water for 5 minutes before applying. Then apply the fungicide. At
least 24hrs later, water normal application. You might need to
re-apply certain areas. When you start to see a few blades of grass
start to poke through, fertilize the area.

In 6 days, I can tell that ~some~ areas are starting to grow back and
I'm only watering twice/week (high temps in the high 80's, low 90's).
The worst areas aren't coming back yet, but they aren't getting worse.
I also haven't seen any new areas of fungus activity.

Hope this helps others!

-AC

"Sam" wrote in message ...
hi.

my lawn looks exactly the same. in the dry yellow dead patches i put some
soil down since it was lower than the rest of the lawn. i also planted some
seed. i always hear people mention chinc bugs and grubs. let me know if
you determine your bug? i live in southern ontario. would it be posible to
look for bugs now?

someone told me to cut out both ends of a can and place on grass where the
dead meets the living grass. fill with water and wait 10-15 minutes and any
bugs will float to the surface.

i am going to put some weed n' feed down soon. Question: when should i use
insecticide? before, after or at the same time as i weed and feed?

SaM