Question: My St. Augustine is turning yellow, then tan along my sidewalk and out in the middle of our front yard. What causes that?

Answer: If it’s in the hottest, sunniest part of your yard, it’s probably from chinch bugs. The grass will first appear dry, but watering won’t bring it back. Get on your hands and knees in the hot part of the day and look at the interface between healthy grass and dying grass (not in the dead areas) for pinhead-sized black insects with white diamonds on their backs. You may also see the immature red forms. Control them with a recommended lawn insecticide.