homeschool win, lawn - girl fail

[ktgrok]

So, my grass that I love, my only hobby, has been weird and I last year suspected something called Bermudagrass Mites. These are not commonly identified, easy to miss, but the signs were there. I emailed photos to an entomologist at UF and he said he didn't think it was pest damage. Problem got worse. This year it was even more obvious, so I got the kids and the microscope and we pulled apart the grass and we found them! Little buggers were there the whole time! So yay, homeschool science for the win! 

Then I emailed a different entomologist, at Clemnson, who has written articles and done research on these mites. He confirmed the diagnosis! But...he also said that there is very little I can do about it 😞 That the stuff labeled for home owner use is worthless and even the stuff labeled for golf courses has mediocre results at best. (I already applied one round of the stuff for golf courses). I can continue to baby it and scalp it occaisonally to cut off as many mites as possible, and bag the clippings to lower the numbers, and water more to make up for the damage they cause, and limp it along as long as I can, but should consider replacing it with another kind of grass 😞

I was going to seed bermuda  in the backyard, but at this point will sod with something else, or the mites will infest the backyard too. (the mites only eat bermudagrass). 

Now I need to figure out what to sod the back with. I love Zoysia but it is really susceptible to nematodes, which I likely also have, and also have no known cure (anymore....the really toxic stuff that got taken off the market worked). St. Augustine is my likely best option, but the one most resistant to nematodes is most susceptible to an incurable sugarcane virus that is slowly making its way across the state, so need to balance a few factors to pick a variety. Bahia is the option with fewest pests, but it never gets thick, and isn't appropriate for an area that gets wear and tear like a kids' play area. And I am allergic to it. 

Grr. Sometimes it isn't good to be right, lol. 

Link to a video of the mites if you want to see them: 

https://www.facebook.com/katie.loeschmeyer/posts/10157456072013666

Edited May 11, 2020 by Ktgrok

[ElizabethB]

We moved to an area that has little lawn eating bugs called billbugs. A fair amount of our lawn was eaten before locals told us about the problem.  They are easily killed, though, and all the local lawn stores have what you need to take care of them. 

https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/CIS/CIS1204.pdf

[ktgrok]

3 hours ago, ElizabethB said:

We moved to an area that has little lawn eating bugs called billbugs. A fair amount of our lawn was eaten before locals told us about the problem.  They are easily killed, though, and all the local lawn stores have what you need to take care of them. 

https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/CIS/CIS1204.pdf

Yes! We get that here too. I actually for a while was wondering if that was the issue, but nope. I wish it was 😞

57 minutes ago, myblessings4 said:

Would you mind posting a picture of what the damaged grass looks like?  If it's obvious.

This is a link to some info and photos. I have a lot of those "witches broom" sections like the two on the right. The one on the left is normal. 

[ktgrok]

3 hours ago, Arctic Mama said:

I don’t see the link.  What a bummer about the mites but you get major props for hunting down the cause and information on treatment, even if it wasn’t great news. High five, homeschooling lady 😉

The link goes to my facebook page...hopefully! https://www.facebook.com/katie.loeschmeyer/posts/10157456072013666

 

[ktgrok]

oh, looking down the lawn looks yellow/brown/dry in those areas. Then when you get close up you can see the witches brooming/clumping. This is my lawn right now. 

Edited May 12, 2020 by Ktgrok