May garden report

Hopefully everyone is enjoying the grilling weather and spending some time on their lawns before we hit the sweltering heat of the summer.

Coming out of one of the dryest April’s to date, we have been seeing a few problems pop up on both turf grass and landscape plantings. Now that we are full swing in the growing season there are a couple things to look out for on both your lawn and plantings that we will get into.

This is the perfect time to start fertilizing your lawn. It’s important to use the right blend of fertilizer which can depend on your grass type and soil composition, therefor it is highly recommended to send a soil sample to a local extension agency.

One of the main factors on fertilizer is the nitrogen rate and you want to make sure not to overdo the nitrogen to avoid chemical burns. Don’t let that discourage you though, a properly fertilized lawn is one of the beauties of summer landscaping.

As for insects and disease this time of year, there are a few things to watch for. In most warm season turf grasses, mole crickets are active this time of year. The eggs have hatched during the spring and as summer progresses, they transition through the nymph stage, which is when they do the most damage while eating the root system of the turf.

If you suspect that you have a mole cricket infestation you can do a simple soap and water test to confirm your theory. All you need to do is mix some generic dish soap with water in a bucket and pour it over the edge of the damaged area. In a few minutes, any insects will arrive on top of the soil allowing you to identify them.

Then there is another insect to look out for in turf grass this time of year, mostly in St. Augustine grass. They are known as chinch bugs which will start to turn the leaf blade of the grass yellow and can be seen crawling over the grass if you take a close look.

On trees and shrubs, the biggest pest seen this time of year would be whiteflies. Whiteflies prefer warm and dry weather which accurately sums up the last month or so in the low country area. They can be seen on citrus plants, Bradford pears, fruit trees, and especially on viburnums. They can be managed but tend to be a difficult pest to control, often causing black sooty mold which leaves you plants looking a little unsightly.

As far as disease goes, as hot and dry as it has been there isn’t much active fungus, but this will change as the summer progresses. Through the summer season you should be on the lookout for gray leaf spot on St. Augustine and dollar spot in Bermuda and zoysia grass.

Here at Lawn Doctor, we have seen a large amount of drought stress caused by the lack of rain in April. At this time, we recommend running your irrigation system 2-3 times a week for roughly 15-25 minutes a zone.
If you run in to any problems or have any questions, we are always available to help you get the most out of your landscape this summer!

Zach Deloach is the owner of Lawn Doctor of Beaufort County.