Chinch bugs are small insects that suck the moisture out of your grass, creating patches of dead turf.
While it is not possible to entirely avoid a chinch bug infestation, as chinch bugs can fly into your lawn, maintaining a healthy lawn will help. Read below for advice on how to make your lawn unappealing to chinch bugs.
Manage Lawn Thatch
Thatch is a loose layer of both dead and living grass stems, roots, shoots, and other debris that builds up on top of soil.
Thatch creates a perfect environment for chinch bugs to live and feed in. Excessive thatch will decrease the effectiveness of any lawn insecticide treatments against chinch bugs, as the insecticide will soak into the thatch instead of the grass below.
To control thatch, rake your lawn frequently or use a verticutter machine to mow thatch from your lawn.
Preventative Control Products
If you regularly have chinch bugs in your yard, year after year, preventative insecticide treatments might be necessary.
A preventative chinch bug insecticide can be applied to your lawn in early spring before chinch bug eggs hatch.
Reach out to your local extension office for information on the best time of the year to apply a preventative treatment.
Maintain a Healthy Lawn
A healthy lawn can better fight off and withstand pressures from pests. Following a lawn care schedule will help you remember when to apply various treatments to your lawn to prevent pests.
Three additional ways to maintain a healthy lawn are:
- Mow your lawn frequently to keep grass blades 2 to 2.5 inches long
- Fertilize your lawn when needed to keep the pH level balanced
- Water your lawn in times of drought but avoid overwatering as a lawn that is too moist can attract pests
We hope you have found this 4-part chinch bug guide helpful. If you are not sure if you have chinch bugs, read our guide on what chinch bugs look like and what chinch bug lawn damage looks like. If you have chinch bugs, our guide on how to kill chinch bugs will guide you through the treatment process.
If you have any questions about the products or treatments mentioned in this guide, give the experts on our customer service team a call at 866-581-7378 or email support@domyown.com.