Adults of the true chinch bug are about 13" long, and usually black with white wings.The chinch bugs will leave patches of yellow on your lawn if left alone.Natural methods of pest control and lawn health maintenance are an excellent response to chinch bugs.The chinch bugs can be killed by non-organic pesticides.
Step 1: Check the population of chinch bugs.
Get an idea of how bad the problem is and whether chinch bugs are to blame.Push the base of the coffee can into the turf.Put soapy water in it.At the border of yellow patches, repeat in several areas of your lawn.Return after ten minutes and count chinch bugs on the surface.Continue to the next step.There are 2–4 chinch bugs per can.Test lawn health again later.If your lawn is in poor shape, immediately treat it.No treatment is necessary for the chinch bug per can.It is possible that your lawn is in poor health.You could also use a magnifying glass to look at the lawn.
Step 2: The lawn should be vacuumed.
If you catch the chinch bug early, Rake the lawn vigorously for 2 ft (60 cm) on all sides of the damaged area, toward the center.The area and surroundings should be vacuumed.It should be water thoroughly.
Step 3: Do you want to make a soap treatment?
It's safe to use insecticidal soaps for organic farming.A homemade soap treatment is more likely to damage your garden, but pure castille soap or mildIvory or Dawn products (not extra-strength, grease-cutting, or anti-bacterial) are usually safe in a solution of 212 tbsp dishwashing liquid per 1 gallon water (40 mL perShake or stir vigorously to combine when mixing in a clean sprayer.If using an insecticidal soap, follow the instructions on the label.If you catch the bug early, you can use this method to target small areas of lawn.If the soap doesn't mix in, it will leave a scum on the surface of the water.If this happens, make a new mix with distilled or bottled water.It is not legal in Canada to use a commercial insecticidal soap for chinch bugs.You can make your own soap treatments.Any soap can damage aquatic life.There is a chance that the water could run off into a storm drain.
Step 4: The soapy water should be sprayed on the lawn.
Use a spray bottle or hose attachment to clean the lawn.It's best to do this on a cool morning or evening.There is a higher chance of damaging your plants in hot weather.Try not to get the soap in contact with the plants.During times of dry weather, some trees and flowers are vulnerable to soap damage.After 24 hours, check a corner of your lawn for damage.
Step 5: Put a flannel sheet over the area.
The chinch bugs get caught in the nap of the flannel when they run for cover.Return after ten or fifteen minutes to vacuum the pests off the sheet, or drown them in a bucket of water.
Step 6: Continue as needed.
You can check your lawn for chinch bugs.It is possible to repeat the soap treatment once a week or once every three or four days.Your lawn should be back to normal soon because the soap breaks down quickly.Since soap is alkaline, you may want to check the soil's pH after the treatment is over.
Step 7: Encourage big-eyed bugs.
These are not available for purchase, but they are often used to feed on chinch bugs.Giving them places to hide and feed encourages them.These are very similar to chinch bugs.They are smaller and faster with larger eyes.You might be mistaken if you see a lot of chinch bugs but your lawn is healthy.
Step 8: Use predatory insects.
The chinch bugs and their eggs are fed on by a number of animals.They don't target chinch bugs as effectively as big-eyed bugs, but they are all available for purchase.The roundworms may also help.There aren't studies on their effectiveness for chinch bugs, but these are proven to control grubs.There are many home and garden stores that sell beneficial nematodes.
Step 9: Try natural oil treatments.
Control of chinch bugs with little effect on plants and beneficial insects can be achieved with the use of a neem oil product.It is possible to burn plants in direct sunlight if you spray on the oil.Some essential oils can help, but have not been studied as thoroughly.Put 20 drops of oil in a gallon of water and spray it on your lawn.
Step 10: Sprinkle on the earth.
It can take weeks or months to solve a problem, so use it only as a last resort.To avoid irritation, wear safety goggles and a dust mask.After applying something, wash your hands.Only garden- or food-grade DE can be used.A more significant respiratory hazard is swimming pool grade DE.The safest option is non-heated DE containing less than one percent.Try applying DE with a bulb.The risk of getting dust in your eyes, nose, and mouth will be reduced.You can either apply DE to the grass after it rains or you can water it.The small particles stick to the grass.
Step 11: Water is deep but not often.
It will be harder for your turf to resist chinch bugs if you have a dry, sunny lawn.The ideal watering schedule depends on your climate and grass species, but starts with 1 inch ( 2.5 cm) a week divided into one to three sessions.After you step on the lawn, it should bounce back.Too much water can make the hair chinch bug problem worse, especially in the northern US and Canada.If you think your lawn is too wet, delay watering until the grass starts to grow again.Beauveria fungus, a parasites that kills chinch bugs, is encouraged by moist conditions.
Step 12: Provide shade.
The chinch bugs are not limited to shaded areas.You can reduce the amount of sunlight your lawn gets by planting trees and bushes.The green grass at the border of expanding yellow patches is the most vulnerable area if your lawn is light-loving.The southern chinch bug's favorite food is St. Augustine grass.Under a 30% shade cloth, it should thrive.
Step 13: Keep the grass tall.
When allowed to grow to a height of 3–4 inches, grass is at its healthiest.During a chinch bug outbreak, tall grass will keep the ground dark and moist, two qualities this pest dislikes.If your lawn is in bad shape, you could skip mowing.If you want to reduce stress on your grass, use a sharp lawn mower blade and remove no more than 13 of the grass blade each mowing.
Step 14: You should de-thatch your lawn.
There is a brown layer between the grass blades and the soil.During cold winters, chinch bugs live in thatch.It is a good idea to aerate your yard once or twice a year.If the thatch is more than an inch thick, cut through it with a vertical mower or dethatching rake.In fall, it's important to reduce areas where chinch bugs can live.
Step 15: It's a good idea to avoid over-fertilizing the lawn.
Plants with high levels of nitrogen are preferred by chinch bugs and other insects.You can switch to an organic slow-releasefertilizer.You can probably add less than the label recommends.If the grass turns green, increase the amount again.
Step 16: There is clear debris in the winter.
chinch bugs can be found under leaf litter or debris in cold climates.raking up leaves is an easy way to make it harder for them.
Step 17: Weeds can be controlled in the spring.
You probably have false chinch bugs if the bugs are grey-brown or blackish brown.After the weeds have died, these only swarm turf in the summer.In order to keep their numbers down, keep your lawn and surrounding areas clear of weeds in the spring.There are false chinch bugs found throughout the United States, southern Canada, Mexico, and the West Indies.
Step 18: The lawn's pH needs to be adjusted.
The ideal soil pH is between 6 and 7.If you want your soil to be within this range, you need to test it with a pH kit from a garden store.Keeping the pH within this range will help your lawn survive pest damage.If you want the best results, send a sample of your soil to a soil testing laboratory.