Uncategorized 08/17/20 / fletchersAdmin / Comments 0
Cinch bugs are tiny but mighty insects which live and feed on your lawn. Left untreated, their presence can result in widespread dead patches by midsummer which result in your previously healthy lawn turning into an unsightly mess of dead grass and weeds. How did things get to this point – and how do we fix it?
Chinch bugs feeding on grass
Cinch bug, a common lawn insect, thrive in lawns with a thick layer of thatch. They pierce the blades of grass and suck out juices, leaving the grass to wither and turn yellow or brown. Cinch bugs LOVE hot, dry weather, which is optimal for reproduction.
A lawn which was thick, healthy and green last year may have hosted cinch bugs, but adequate rain and cooler temperatures work to keep populations in check. Once the hot, dry days of high summer arrive, cinch populations explode and the grass plants, sucked dry of their juices, can’t recover.
Prevention, Treatment & Recovery
The best defence is a good offence! Good lawn maintenance practices defend against a severe infestation and minimize damage.
- Dethatching your lawn in the spring reduces the Cinch’s natural habitat and makes your lawn a less friendly place to live and reproduce
- Irrigation: regularly watering your lawn, if your community bylaws allow it, works to reduce Cinch populations as they require hot dry conditions to thrive.
- Overseed your lawn with a robust mixture of fine fescues and endophyte-enhanced ryegrass which naturally deter cinch bugs.
- Targeted pest control in lawns where damaging populations are appearing.
- Slit seed damaged lawns – dead areas will not recover without reseeding. Follow up with a light fertilizer to strengthen existing plants and boost new growth.
Deluxe Overseed Lateral Spread Lawn Mixture: Premium fine Fescues and endophyte enhanced Ryegrass provide natural resistance to Cinch bugs
If you suspect your lawn is suffering from an insect infestation, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
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