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Can I resod now after chinch bug damage?
By Kathy Huber | November 24, 2008
Q: I am overseas, but want to resod my chinch-bug-damaged St. Augustine when I return Thanksgiving. Is this a good time or should I wait until spring? How do I treat the soil before resodding? What kind of grass do you recommend? - F.P., Houston
A: You can resod anytime the grass is available. However, moisture is critical after sodding, so make sure someone can water, especially the first few weeks. Plant a chinch bug-resistant St. Augustine variety such as 'Floratam'.
Before sodding, remove dead grass and weeds. Ideally, use a soil test to determine which amendments are needed. Otherwise, work gypsum and compost into the soil to improve the oxygen supply and water retention. Smooth the soil, and lay the sod squares end to end. Tamp to encourage good soil contact. Water.
Typically chinch bug outbreaks begin in the hottest, driest areas of the lawn. Symptoms begin with irregular patches of dead or stunted grass surrounded by a halo of yellowing and dying grass. These patches expand and merge as the pest population increases.
Proper lawn care is the best weapon. Water sunny, hot areas that dry quickly. Moisture can suppress chinch bugs. Mow at proper heights. Avoid thatch buildup.
To treat, apply compost in 1/4- to 1/2-inch layers once or twice a year to build beneficial soil organisms. Should the pest re-appear, treat with diatomaceous earth, molasses, manure tea or citrus-oil spray.
See aggieturf.tamu.edu/answers4you/plants.htm for more information.