A healthy and lush yard is a homeowner’s dream. But it can quickly turn into a nightmare upon the discovery of lawn disease. While lawn disease isn’t particularly harmful to your grass, it can be an eyesore.
What are the most common lawn diseases? How can you treat them? Today we answer those questions and more.
Brown Patch
Brown patch is caused by the Rhizoctonia species fungus. This condition primarily affects lawns during hot and humid weather.
Brown patch can be identified by irregular patches that are brown or yellow in color. Also, the outside of the patches is a darker color than the inside. Patches can be anywhere from a few inches to several feet in diameter.
What to Do About It
When you notice signs of brown patch, the best thing to do is spray your lawn with a broad-spectrum fungicide. This will prevent the disease from spreading.
To thicken sparse areas, overseed your lawn during the late summer or early fall. We recommend using grass seeds that are resistant to the Rhizoctonia fungus.
Red Thread
Red thread is caused by the fungus Laetisaria. It can be identified by its thin red strands. Red thread is typically found on lawns grown in nitrogen-deficient soil.
What to Do About It
The best treatment for red thread is to fertilize your lawn. We recommend applying a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer in the fall for lush grass in the spring.
Snow Mold
Snow Mold is a fungal disease that appears after the snow has melted. It appears as grayish or whitish patches of matted grass.
There are two types of snow mold: pink snow mold and gray snow mold. Pink snow mold affects the crown of the grass, while gray snow mold infects the leaf tissue.
What to Do About It
When you notice signs of snow mold, the first thing you should do is rake the affected areas to loosen matted grass. This helps unaffected grass grow. For severely damaged areas, overseeding may help.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease and is prone to areas with high humidity and poor air circulation. It appears as white dust — similar to talcum powder.
What to Do About It
A fungicide can be applied to stop the spread of powdery mildew. It is also beneficial to reduce shade in affected areas.
Fairy Ring
Fairy rings are circular areas with brown or dark green arcs. They can grow to be over 30 feet in diameter. A circle of mushrooms usually forms around the edge of the infected area.
What to Do About It
If you notice fairy rings, you can start by fertilizing the area to even the color. We also recommend core aeration — removing cores of soil.
Cure Lawn Disease with Turf Pride
Controlling lawn disease can be a difficult task. However, we can help. The experts at TurfPride can tackle lawn disease and keep your yard beautiful and healthy.
Contact us today to learn more about our lawn maintenance options.