Have you touched the soil itself to verify the moisture content? Insects living in the thatch or soil can also produce these symptoms. It's important to get the diagnosis correct, because localized dry spot treatment won't do anything for insects.

 

Have you touched the soil itself to verify the moisture content? Insects living in the thatch or soil can also produce these symptoms. It's important to get the diagnosis correct, because localized dry spot treatment won't do anything for insects.

Hi, thanks for the response. I have felt the soil and it feels dry and grainy, even after the nighttime rainfall.

I've dug pretty deep into the soil and don't se anything like grubs, but there are a lot of little black bugs that fly over my lawn. Maybe gnats? Not entirely sure..

 

I recommend the coffee can test because it's simple and would help eliminate possibility of chinch bug or other bug. Cut off both ends, place the can where the dry meets the lush green, run the hose in the cylinder for a couple of minutes and see if anything floats to the surface. If so, take a picture to help ID.

 

Dry and grainy despite watering; yes, I would probably amend the soil with Humic DG (because I have it on hand) and maybe try Greendoc's recipe for wetting agent: https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=365159#p365159

 

I recommend the coffee can test because it's simple and would help eliminate possibility of chinch bug or other bug. Cut off both ends, place the can where the dry meets the lush green, run the hose in the cylinder for a couple of minutes and see if anything floats to the surface. If so, take a picture to help ID.

I'll give it a try and post any results if I find them. Thanks!

 

Prepare to spray insecticide.

 

Prepare to spray insecticide.

Hi! Sorry if I sound uninformed, but I was under the impression that bugs don't really start their harm until around June or July, which is when all the insecticides recommend application.

Is it too early for bug damage? I've already put a lot of things on my lawn (herbicides, fertilizer, fungicide, etc.) that I don't want to harm the grass by putting on more products than needed.

Thank you!

 

Prepare to spray insecticide.

Hi! Sorry if I sound uninformed, but I was under the impression that bugs don't really start their harm until around June or July, which is when all the insecticides recommend application.

Is it too early for bug damage? I've already put a lot of things on my lawn (herbicides, fertilizer, fungicide, etc.) that I don't want to harm the grass by putting on more products than needed.

Thank you!

You will come to realize that it's better to be to early then to late. Mostly because when you get any disease it takes FOREVER to get rid of it.

 

I'm just now getting control of my mole crickets. Bugs are a year round deal in Florida.

 

From UF website on southern chinch bug...

"Severe damage tends to occur from March through November in southern Florida and from April through October in northern Florida."

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_southern_chinch_bug

But again, could just be a dry spot. Couldn't hurt to check though!

 

I'm just now getting control of my mole crickets. Bugs are a year round deal in Florida.

Just sprayed some insecticide on the affected areas in the yard. Hoping it will solve the issue. Will post some after pics once they come in.

 

From UF website on southern chinch bug...

"Severe damage tends to occur from March through November in southern Florida and from April through October in northern Florida."

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_southern_chinch_bug

But again, could just be a dry spot. Couldn't hurt to check though!

Thanks for the informative link! I decided to play it safe and sprayed some pesticide. Hopefully I'll see some positive results.