Common Lawn Issues

Spittlebugs

Signs & Damage:

• Damaged turf wilts and tips turn yellow, eventually turning brown and curling.
• Produces masses of frothy "spittle" on grass, leaves, and stems.
• Adults are black with two orange stripes.
• Most active during early morning hours.

Life Cycle:

• Overwintering eggs hatch in spring.
• Summer eggs hatch in approximately 2–3 weeks.
• Nymphs mature into adults in about one month.
• Typically two generations occur each year.

Billbugs

Signs & Damage:

• Damage often resembles drought stress, dollar spot disease, or grub injury.
• Adults chew holes in grass stems.
• Larvae feed on stems and roots.
• Grass breaks off easily when tugged.

Life Cycle:

• Adults remain active year-round in warm climates.
• Adults often play dead when disturbed.
• Egg laying occurs during spring and summer.
• Development from egg to adult takes about one month.
• Several overlapping generations may occur.

Chinch Bugs

Signs & Damage:

• Irregular patches of wilted yellow-brown turf.
• Feed by sucking juices from grass stems.
• Damage is most severe during hot, sunny, dry weather.
• Heavy infestations can kill large areas of turf.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs are laid in leaf sheaths and stems.
• Nymphs emerge after 1–2 weeks.
• Nymphs mature in approximately 5 weeks.
• Three to seven generations may occur annually.

Armyworms

Signs & Damage:

• Chew grass blades, creating bare patches.
• Large populations can destroy a lawn within days.
• Most active at night and during cooler periods of the day.
• Damage can spread rapidly if left untreated.

Life Cycle:

• Adult moths lay eggs on grass blades and nearby surfaces.
• Eggs hatch in approximately one week.
• Larvae feed on grass for 2–3 weeks.
• Pupation occurs in the soil before adult moths emerge.
• Up to ten generations may occur annually.

Grubs

Signs & Damage:

• Large irregular brown patches in turf.
• Root damage causes grass to pull up easily.
• Damage worsens quickly once feeding begins.
• Moles, armadillos, raccoons, and skunks may dig in affected areas searching for grubs.

Life Cycle:

• Adult beetles lay eggs during early summer.
• Grubs hatch and feed on roots through fall.
• They move deeper into the soil during winter.
• Spring feeding resumes before they develop into adult beetles.

Sod Webworms

Signs & Damage:

• Yellow or brown patches that resemble drought stress.
• Turf may appear scalped.
• Damage commonly begins in late spring and continues through fall.
• Moths flying over the lawn at night can indicate activity.

Life Cycle:

• Moths lay eggs in the grass.
• Eggs hatch in approximately one week.
• Larvae feed for 3–4 weeks before developing into moths.
• Typically two to four generations occur each year.

Dollar Spot

Disease Symptoms:

• Silver dollar-sized circular spots that are straw-colored and appear sunken in finer-textured turfgrasses.
• Dead spots are often larger and more diffuse in coarser turfgrasses.
• Light tan spots with reddish-brown borders may radiate from the edge of the leaf blade.
• Hourglass-shaped lesions may develop on leaves.
• Individual leaf blades may show both damaged and healthy sections.
• Delicate mycelium may be visible in the early morning when dew is present.
• Small bleached spots may appear throughout the turf.

Host Grasses:

Most turfgrasses.

Disease Cycle:

• The pathogen overwinters in previously infected plants and turf residue.
• Spreads through plant debris, water, shoes, mowers, and equipment.
• Infects leaves and stems during favorable conditions.
• Most severe during late spring, early summer, and early fall.

Factors That May Promote Disease Development:

• Excessive thatch.
• Low soil fertility.
• Inadequate soil moisture.
• Compacted soils.
• Heavy prolonged dew.
• Uncontrolled infection from the previous year.
• Temperatures between 70°F and 80°F.

Cultural Control:

• Remove excessive thatch.
• Maintain adequate soil fertility, especially nitrogen.
• Water deeply and infrequently.
• Aerify compacted soils.
• Remove dew in the mornings.
• Improve drainage and air movement.
• Raise mowing height when appropriate.

Brown Patch

Disease Symptoms:

• Brown areas of dead or dying grass that often appear in circular patterns.
• Multiple circles may overlap, creating irregular shapes.
• The disease can spread rapidly and become visible within 48 hours.
• Untreated infections can spread to larger areas of the lawn.

Host Grasses:

Most turfgrasses.

Disease Cycle:

• Develops rapidly when temperatures are between 75°F and 85°F and wet conditions are present.
• Common during spring, fall, and mild winter conditions.
• Occurs after extended periods of leaf wetness.
• Leaves, stems, crowns, and roots may become infected.

Factors That May Promote Disease Development:

• Cool, wet, or humid conditions.
• Extended dew or standing moisture on leaf blades.
• Excessive nitrogen applications.
• Overwatering.
• Poor air circulation.
• Poor soil drainage.
• Excessive thatch.
• Compacted soils.

Cultural Control:

• Water deeply but infrequently.
• Water early in the morning.
• Avoid late afternoon and evening watering.
• Reduce excessive thatch buildup.
• Improve drainage and airflow throughout the lawn.