June, 2016 | Superior Lawn Care

While it may not look like much of a scourge, dollar spot is a serious lawn disease that can infect and kill a lot of different turf types that are in the Pittsburgh area. Although the spots look harmless, this disease will damage the turf all the way down to the roots and should be treated as soon as possible.

This condition is actually a fungus that starts as a small silver dollar-sized patch approximately 1 to 6 inches in diameter. The fungus is able to last in cold weather as dormant mycelium (mycelium is a part of a fungus that is made of a mass of branches or fibers) in plant parts in both the thatch and soil.

When Does Dollar Spot Become Active?

Dollar spot is a summer disease. When temperatures consistently get in the 70 to 90 degree range, the disease becomes active. Good conditions for dollar spot infestation include low nitrogen levels in the soil and excessive thatch. We also find that mowing the lawn too low and the lack of soil moisture during times of high humidity also cause the disease’s activity.

What Does Dollar Spot Look Like?

Dollar spot is very distinct and easy to identify. Once it begins to damage your turf, it looks like small silver dollar-sized patches (giving it the name “dollar spot”) that are white to tan in color. If you look at grass blades up close, there will be lesions on the blades that have a tan to reddish brown edge and an hourglass shape. If you look at your grass on summer mornings and notice a cotton-like substance, that’s also a sign of dollar spot.

How Can I Eliminate Dollar Spot?

Since dollar spot is an invasive fungus, this disease can be eliminated through fungicide treatments. If you see the tell-tale signs of dollar spot, it’s important to arrange for treatment right away to prevent further damage to your lawn. Superior Lawn Care can help to ensure that your lawn will look great with our five-step lawn application program. We provide service to all areas in southwestern PA, including Greensburg, Penn Township, Indiana, Wexford, and Murrysville. Call us today to learn more about how we can keep lawn problems far away and give you the dense, green lawn you love.

During the hottest months of summer, you may notice that your lawn has yellow-brown patches. Since it’s common for yellow patches to develop when there’s been little rain, you could think that you’re losing your healthy, green lawn to heat stress. What many homeowners don’t realize is that these yellow patches can also be caused by chinch bugs, which feast on Western Pennsylvania grass.

What Do Chinch Bugs Look Like?

They’re small—just around 1/6 inch long once they are fully grown. They are greyish black, have small hairs surrounding their bodies, and have folded white wings. These insects are camouflaged by grass and thatch, and since they’re small, you probably won’t see them. However, they can cause damage to your grass, which is their main source of food. They also damage the grass while they draw the liquid from the blades, making parts of your lawn turn yellow, then brown, and then die.

What Conditions Do They Thrive In?

The adult female chinch bugs can lay hundreds of eggs every few months throughout their lifespan. By October, they choose an area to overwinter until the spring and warmer temperatures again arrive.

Chinch bugs like open areas that receive a lot of sun. That means that your lawn may be their perfect home during the hottest summer months. They feed on grass that’s common to Western PA, including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and red fescue. You’ll notice patches of damaged turf in July and August. If it’s been a dry, hot summer, you may think those patches are caused by little rain or heat stress, but chances are, you have a chinch bug problem.

Prevent and Control Chinch Bugs with Superior Lawn Care

Since chinch bug infestations can get out of control by July, you should use a surface insect control in May and June that’s part of an overall, multi-step lawn application program. Superior Lawn Care’s five-step program will give you a dense, green, carpeted lawn throughout the summer months. We cover all areas in southwestern Pennsylvania including Murrysville, Indiana, Wexford, Greensburg, Penn Township, and many other places in and around Pittsburgh. Call or contact us today to learn more about surface insect control.