Question
I live in Western Michigan, where it has become much milder as of late.  My grass has taken off very nicely this spring, until a few days ago.  I had a very nice green lawn.  I came home from work the other day to see that my entire lawn semed to be trying to turn a bit more brown.  We had two nights last week that produced a bit of frost, and I guess that is what I suspect.  I was wondering if this is normal, and will it come back. Also, while mowing today, I noticed a ton of little flying bugs all over the place.  Are these guys just hatching, and will go away, or do I need to worry about them too.  Thanks in advance for your help.  Could I be iver watering possibly?

Jeff Dault

Answer
hi jeff,
take a look at this website for recommended insecticides. you may find various brands at home depot, lowes, walmart, etc. This website will help guide you to products capable of dealing with sod webworms and/or chinch bugs:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/1008_05.html

Most products as you will see will do the trick (e.g.
acephate,  bendiocarb, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, etc)

Two very common names are Dusrban and Diazinon (Tempo).


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No, a lawn should not turn brown now. Flying bugs could be chinch bugs. check photos on google and verify.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=chinch+bugs

You can also check sod webworms which would be consistent with the moth looking bugs


http://images.google.com/images?q=sod+webworms&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Goog...

place a coffee can with bottom cut out 1/2 inch into soil (twist in) and fill with water to which 1 tbsp dish detergent has been added (as surfacant). Refill when it empties. any bugs in the root zone should float to surface.

I would suspect bug insects and you apply an all-round insecticide on the lawn if you need to.

When you water, water infrequently but deeply, such as once per week for 2 hours rather than 15 minutes daily.