Question
QUESTION: I have a St. Augustine Lawn in SouthWest Florida (Sarasota Area) that is around 18 months old and will probably never see month #20. It is truly sad that my lush, green, carpet of turf has been reduced to 25% of its former self. After reading several other posts on this topic, I have realized that much of the damage was my own fault and I wish I had invested even 1/2 the time learning about my lawn when it was healthy rather than trying to scramble now that it might be too late. Hind-sight is always 20/20 and crystal clear, right?
Here's my situation. I had a lush, rich turf of St. Augustine that was installed by my builder when my house was completed and it did very well during it's first 12-months. Daily waterings turned to weekly waterings and all was well until about 2 months ago (July 07) when extreme hot dry spells and year-long water-bans forced me to reduce the watering times to once a week and for minimum times on each zone. With shallow waterings came poor rooting, the dinner bell rang, and the chinch bug infestation was in full swing! About 70 % of my lawn was devoured in 6 weeks! No mistaking them - saw them quite clearly on the leaf blades, stolons, happy, fat little monsters!
As much as I hate to use chemicals, I had no choice (at the time) but to apply a generous dose (or 2) of a spectracide product to try and knock down the population.

I have recalibrated all my sprinkler zones to deliver between 1/2" to 3/4" water once a week (tuna can method) because that's all my county will allow. I have also put down a slow realease Lesco fertilizer and weed control for St. Augustine.

Now I'm waiting. My question is, Can I expect my lawn to recover or is it already too late? There are several areas around the borders of my lawn that still have green stolons and already show signs of new shoots and recovery. I don't want to re-sod as it is very costly and may only last until the next summer when the whole thing repeats itself. Up until now, I had only fertilized my lawn with the occaisional weed control. I had never put down a pesticide before. I have read several forums and have learned that deep watering even once a week is all that is required to keep ST Augustine lawns happy. I have not tried the composte on dead spots as I did not want to do too much at once. I realize that my recent application of pesticide will only kill 1 generation of chinch bugs and there will be many more in about 8 weeks. But now that the damage is done, what should my nexts steps be?

I appreciate any suggestions or comments, but experience and expertise would be more welcomed.


I recently applied a Spectracide product to try and

ANSWER: Mario:

This is the most complete description of a problem that I have recieved.   Thank you.

I believe that you understand the causes of the problem and steps of remedy.

Watering deeply is best.
Treat for Cinch bugs regularly and in proper season.
Weekly waterings should be fine, now that temperatures are moderating.  Tuna can is great.

Consider a high quality compost for a winter feeding.  3/8 inch deep over the lawn area will require one cubic yard per thousand square feet of lawn.  Find a professional compost supplier who serves landscapers for your material.  It should be made at temps above 131 deg. F and have a nutrient analysis for the batch.  Do not worry about calculating amounts of N-P-K.  Compost is slow release by nature and available when the plants demand.

Consider seeding with a good variety for your area.  Ask your ag agent what seed to buy.  This is much cheaper than sod and you can ad some resilience by varying the varieties of St. Augustine.  Look for Floratam, Seville, Raleigh and others.  Floratam and Seville are resistant to Cinch Bugs.

Hope this helps.  Best wishes.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick response Tom,

I'll be putting down some composte in the damaged areas along with some plugs in mid November. In the meantime, I have been researching alternatives to chemical insecticides and have found something that looks promising.

What do you know about Mycotrol-O? From what I have been able to see on-line, this is the trade name for a natural Beauveria Blissus (spelling?) virus that attacks soft-bodied lawn and garden insects naturally and is usually present in moist soils. It is supposedly completely harmless to humans and other (desirable) organisms. I guess that long dry spells, like we've had in SW Florida, reduces this naturally occuring strain which leads to chinck bugs going wild. Perhaps an application in the cooler, wetter months of November through January would be a good way to get rid of these pests naturally as this stuff also attacks nymphs and has a better chance of establishing itself in the cooler months. At over $130 a quart, it may be more cost-effective than 5 or 6 applications of a granular product yearly, but I imagine it would be ineffective in the hot, dry summer months.

Here's a link http://www.arbico-organics.com/1332722.html

I'm willing to try it out but have no knowledge on its use or application.

Any thoughts?  

Answer
Mario:

Another excellent bit of research and comprehension.

The fungus of which you speak sounds like a good solution, though expensive.  I have found reference to it in worm castings or worm compost, made at low temperatures.  Beauveria will not be found in normal good composts because they are made above that temperature.

The high number of cinch bugs appears to be a result of lack of rain, as you indicated.

The application of high quality compost should re-establish a balance of soil organisms as well as a buffer against drought.  It will not, in the end, offer a final solution to severe drought.

If the Mycotrol-O is too expensive, you may add some worm compost to various locations in your yard to re-introduce the Beauveria.  It is also a deterrent to fire ants.

I will have to qualify thatI have no direct experience with Mycotrol-O.  From research on Beauveria, it appears to be a good fungus with many benefits.  I would agree with the use of natural products.  They seem to last longer and most have excellent results.

Best wishes.