Yes, we are getting near the transition from summer to fall.
Cooler weather is just around the corner and we will have survived another
Lowcountry summer. One question that should come to mind is do I want to put
out ryegrass for a green lawn all winter or paint the lawn green? Should I just
let it go dormant as usual?
If you are trying to sell your house, I would seriously consider
rye or paint in the front yard at least. The first impression is so important.
If you sell your house faster, you will avoid those dreaded mortgage payments.
If you decide to rye, watch the timing of your preemergent herbicide and the
seeding rate you use with the rye. You do not want any trouble in the spring
with the transition back to your permanent grass.
Many people are hyper-allergic to fire ant stings. Several people each year die from fire ant
bites as well as many more end up in the hospital. Bait products are best used over your entire
yard (beds and lawn areas) and are very inexpensive. Other broad spectrum
products like Bug Blaster and Lebanon Insect Control will kill fire ants and
other pests like the “nasty rascal, the chinch bug”. Landscape & Garden Insecticide (contains
Spinosad a synthetic organic) is very good at killing fire ants as well as some
other insects.
The “nasty rascal, the chinch bug”, has been bad all spring.
Products containing Bifen or Lebanon Insect Control will control “nasty rascal,
the chinch bug”, fleas, and fire ants.
Fleas have been particularly bad this year as well. The fleas that attack our dogs are actually
known as cat fleas! Fleas reproduce at a
very rapid rate. A female flea averages
1350 eggs laid in the first 50 days of landing on a host. This is why it is so important to use a
growth regulator like Nylar or Precor to control these pests. Nylar is more photo-stable and does not break
down in the sunlight like Precor does.
This means that you can use it outside as well as inside. Most dogs like to sit in front of a window
and watch for squirrels and other invaders in the yard. Using Precor in a place like this will not be
as effective as using Ultracide which contains Nylar. Nylar also acts as a growth regulator for
roaches. Alpine Flea Insecticide with IGR is a new product on the market that
is working very well. Diatomaceous earth is an organic option.
Gray leaf spot fungus has been attacking St. Augustine
grass. The recent afternoon
thunderstorms have created a perfect environment for this disease to
flourish. This disease likes hot and
humid weather, so turn off your irrigation system, mow your St. Augustine lower than normal (2 ½ - 3
inches), mow your grass more often every 3-5 days and pick up your
clippings. These cultural practices will
help manage the disease by drying off the grass; however, if you need to use a
control product, Honor Guard is a great liquid product and Prophesy is a good
granular product to use. Using a fertilizer like 04-00-10 (a 1 to 2.5 ratio of
nitrogen to potash) with minors, humic acid, and root enhancer will give the
grass the food to help battle this disease.
Army worms have started munching on our grass. This worm
seems to like Bermuda grass the most; however, they will sometimes attack other
grass. Sod webworms that munch on our St. Augustine and Centipede grass usually
attack a little later in the year.
Wasps and other stinging insects seem to be out in full
force. Although it can be entertaining to blast them out of the air from 20
feet with Wasp Freeze, you will have much better success if you can locate
their nest, wait until late in the afternoon when they all come home, then
treat with Delta Dust or some other control product and nail them all at one
time.
Always read, understand, and follow product label or hire a
professional.
