Need help to identify lawn issue - Ask Extension
Hello,
I’m having a hard time determining if I’m facing insect damage, fungus, or drought stress. I checked for chinch bugs using the water tes...
Knowledgebase
Need help to identify lawn issue #870930
Asked May 31, 2024, 11:45 AM EDT
Hello,
I’m having a hard time determining if I’m facing insect damage, fungus, or drought stress. I checked for chinch bugs using the water test and only saw what appeared to be a number of whiteflies. I’m not certain if I should look into an insecticide, fungicide, or just increase my watering. Any help is appreciated!
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Jordan,
Great question - especially at this time of year when its important to get out ahead of any potential turf issues. In your question you did not tell me what, if anything, you have already applied to your turf such as fertilizer or pre-emergent herbicide.
Overall, your lawn looks really good with some signs of stress or what could be last year's grub issues. Grubs are the larva form of many beetles and feed on the tender root structure of your grass turning it yellow. Grub issues are usually easy to determine by digging just under the surface of the effected grass area and seeing if there are grubs present. Right now is not the best time to test for grubs since most at this time have matured and are living as beetles; maturing, mating and laying eggs in the grass which will develop as grass root eating larva later this summer. If you have grub damage now, the grass yellowing is from last years brood and you are seeing the result of their root eating. Best time to do grub testing is in August or September. If you find them, a grub treatment tends to be most effective at that time since that's when the larva are feeding most heavily.
Your lawn structure looks good overall and it is hard to just look from a distance and tell you "yup, you have this!" What I would advise is to visit with your full season garden center folks and see what issues folks in your area are currently experiencing. Another "rule of the road for lawn care and gardening overall" is not to treat with insecticides, herbicides or fungicides until you're sure you are treating the right problem.
We are not now experiencing any drought-related issues here in the Xenia area in SW Ohio, but rainfall at this time of year is really hit and miss. If you feel you are seeing the effects, I would recommend you do some supplemental watering while asking around at your local garden center to see what they are hearing from their various customers.
Again, thank you for the question and I hope you get to fully enjoy your yard this summer and fall. Sorry this is a little late, but I was a bit under the weather this past weekend with whatever is going around.
Great question - especially at this time of year when its important to get out ahead of any potential turf issues. In your question you did not tell me what, if anything, you have already applied to your turf such as fertilizer or pre-emergent herbicide.
Overall, your lawn looks really good with some signs of stress or what could be last year's grub issues. Grubs are the larva form of many beetles and feed on the tender root structure of your grass turning it yellow. Grub issues are usually easy to determine by digging just under the surface of the effected grass area and seeing if there are grubs present. Right now is not the best time to test for grubs since most at this time have matured and are living as beetles; maturing, mating and laying eggs in the grass which will develop as grass root eating larva later this summer. If you have grub damage now, the grass yellowing is from last years brood and you are seeing the result of their root eating. Best time to do grub testing is in August or September. If you find them, a grub treatment tends to be most effective at that time since that's when the larva are feeding most heavily.
Your lawn structure looks good overall and it is hard to just look from a distance and tell you "yup, you have this!" What I would advise is to visit with your full season garden center folks and see what issues folks in your area are currently experiencing. Another "rule of the road for lawn care and gardening overall" is not to treat with insecticides, herbicides or fungicides until you're sure you are treating the right problem.
We are not now experiencing any drought-related issues here in the Xenia area in SW Ohio, but rainfall at this time of year is really hit and miss. If you feel you are seeing the effects, I would recommend you do some supplemental watering while asking around at your local garden center to see what they are hearing from their various customers.
Again, thank you for the question and I hope you get to fully enjoy your yard this summer and fall. Sorry this is a little late, but I was a bit under the weather this past weekend with whatever is going around.
