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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-04-22, Page 36Page 11 Don't let brown If your lawnturns brown this summer, in spite of fertilization, watering, or rainfall, then insects are likely to blame. The' damage is usually a result of insects attacking the roots of the turfgrass. Healthy grass has deep .roots and can withstand considerable drought, before tur- ning brown. - - To determine if insects are the "root" of the problem, carefully inspect the browned -out patches. - Chinch- .bugs, sod webworm and white grubs are common. lawn pests. - Chinch bugs use their piercing mouthparts to suck sap from the stems of. grass plants — usually causing the grass to wither and die. The adult _ chinch bugs are about five millimetres long, black in color with an ir- regular white band on each wing. `"Finding the bugs in slightly damaged lawns can be difficult because they tend to hide . in the thatch layer;" says Hor- ticulturist Ruth Friendship -Keller of the -On- tario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's rural organizations -and services branch. But chinch bugs can be flushed out with water; flood the dead, sunken patches in the lawn and place a white cloth over the area. -The chinch bugs will -crawl onto the cloth where they can be seen more easily. - Another method of detection is to force a large can. —.from which the top and bottom have been removed — into the turf just out -- side the edge of the browned -out area. - Fill the can with water and tease the grass at the bottom; the chinch bugs will rise to the surface_ of the water where they can be seen more easily. If you find chinch bugs,. apply a chemical, urf bug y \CutwOMIS emerge from the soil and devour the turfgrass plants. Cutworrns can be a problem in spring, summer and fall. They can be a very serious pest on -the prairies. Leatherjackets are a pest in the coastal regions of Canada. They devour grass roots. Damaged - turf pulls back like a carpet. Leatheljackets are apest in spring and fall. They become European Crane Flies when mature. this su 111 r Chinch Bugs are a problem in the heat of the summer They inject a poison into the turfgrass plants - and suck plant juices. Damage 'looks like the lawn is suffering from lack of water. Sod Webworms chew grass blades off at the plant base. Often you can find their green manure Sod webworms become white moths which dart above the lawn. These moths are noticeable when mowing the lawn. White Grubs feed on the roots of grass plants. Damaged turf pulls back like a carpet. Grubs are usually a problem in spring and fall. White grubs become beetles like June Bugs and European Chafers. Now's the time to get growing! SHOP VERBEEK'S YOUR ONE-STOP GARDEN CENTRE ®ilulk and Packaged Seeds ® Shrubs s Roses ® Shade or Fruit Trees • Fertilizers * Chemicals *Coco Shells * Bark ® Boxed Plants s Garden 'Pools „SUNBEAM BAR' ECUE Models to choose from Double burner. push-button start. lava. rock included. automarc ig- niter one shelf Regular from 5185.00 With this coupon Clirnbers, Tea, Floribunda, Grandiflora Potted or Packaged $15® OFF VALUAi .LE C STAINLESS STEEL UPON iMRS mulABLEcoupom JFR' g :_ITT EES$ Apple Pear. Plum, Cherry. Peach FOR MOST MODELS & MAKES With Coupon $25®99 �.z $300 kFF With This Coupon FA.RM.& GARDEN :CETNT 22 Isaac Stree#; �lint0n • ., ... _ 482-+