How can I prevent chinch bugs in my Lawn?

Chinch bugs are among the most destructive lawn pests found in Southwest Florida. These insects are essentially grass vampires that suck the juices out of grass, killing it off one blade at a time. If chinch bugs invade your lawn, they will soon destroy whole patches of grass, ruining its curb appeal. To prevent chinch bugs from infesting your lawn, follow these tips:

• Keep your lawn well-watered, especially during periods of drought. Chinch bugs thrive in hot weather and often target dry lawns in the Fort Myers area.
• Be careful about using fertilizer with too much nitrogen on your lawn. An excess of nitrogen can cause grass overgrowth, creating the lush environment that chinch bugs prefer.
• If you notice thatch building up on your lawn, have your lawn aerated and take other measures to remove it. Chinch bugs love to live in thatch, and are more likely to invade lawns that have a lot of it.
• Be careful about using pesticides for spiders and ladybugs. While these species can become household nuisances, they play a beneficial role in Fort Myers lawns as natural chinch bug predators.
• If you’re planning to lay down sod or overseed your lawn, use grass varieties that are resistant to chinch bug infestations. Such varieties include floralawn, floratam St. Augustine, and zoysia.
• Keep an eye out for patches of yellow or brown grass that seem to expand outward over time. This is a common sign of chinch bug damage, and you should take action as soon as you notice it.