Lawn Care for Lawn Disease | Today's Garden Ideas

Lawn Secrets The Pest Control People Don’t Want You To Know About…

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Lawn disease is usually caused by fungus. Fungal spores are always present in lawn soil. Fungal lawn disease can be a result of extreme weather conditions or faulty lawn care that causes the increased growth of the fungus. To be sure your lawn disease is the result of fungus pull up the infected lawn area. If the dead turf pulls away easily from the roots insects are most likely the cause. Speak with your local nursery about the correct lawn care to attack this type of lawn disease. If the dead sod does not pull up easily it is due to a fungal lawn disease.

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How Does Lawn Disease Occur?

Fungus causes lawn disease due to stress. Stress can be a result of extreme weather. Very cold or very warm temperature extremes can cause fungus to flourish. Lawn disease can be the result of grass that is cut too short, soil that is too compact or too much thatch. Lawn disease can also be the result of other types of bad lawn care like over or under fertilizing or over watering.

Signs of Lawn Disease

The first sign that you need to perform some type of lawn care is usually dying or discolored lawns. Because lawn disease usually strikes after extreme stress be sure to check your lawn for lawn disease after intense weather like draught, excessive rain or high humidity. Lawn care should also involve inspecting for lawn disease just before and after seasonal changes.

How to Stop Lawn Disease
When you spot signs of lawn disease your first step toward the correct lawn care is to mark off the area with the lawn disease and avoid walking on it so you will not spread the lawn disease to healthy areas of your lawn. Spread about an inch of compost over the diseased area. The lawn care will help kill the fungus. Next, to combat the lawn disease spray a fungicide over the area and into adjacent lawn areas to destroy any left over fungus. Finally be sure to overseed your lawn in the fall using a disease resistant seed mixture.

Lawn Disease Prevention

There are 3 methods of lawn care that will help prevent lawn disease. First be sure to aerate you lawn every 3 or 4 years. Be sure to overseed your lawn with a new type of grass seed every 4 years or increase your lawns resistance to lawn disease. Finally, be sure to mow the grass to 2 inches and no shorter. Leave the lawn clippings on the grass. This will reduce stress and increase natural organic fertilizer.

Some common lawn diseases include the following:

Dollar spot – Your lawn will have light brown or tan spots the size of silver dollars. To get rid of this lawn disease feed your sod in the spring and fall. Apply light nitrogen frequently and be sure to remove and destroy infected grass clippings.

Red thread – This lawn disease looks like areas of pink grass. You can actually see red or rust colored threads on the grass. This lawn disease loves cool humid climates. For proper lawn care fertilize in spring and fall. Add lime as needed, improve drainage and remove all infected grass clippings.

Brown patch – Round brown areas characterize this lawn disease. The grass will first look water logged and then brown and dry. To combat this lawn disease use slow release nitrogen fertilizer in the spring. Be sure to improve drainage and remove all infected grass clipping.

Powdery mildew – This lawn disease makes the grass blades look white or gray. The blades may turn yellow and wilt. This lawn disease likes to attack new grass. The correct lawn care in this case is to remove causes of excess shade, aerate your lawn and be sure not to over water or over fertilize.

Rust – The grass blades will develop rust bubbles. To get rid of this lawn disease mow your lawn weekly and destroy all infected clippings. Be sure to feed, water and fertilize regularly.

Pythium blight (Cottony blight) – The grass looks greasy in areas with the affected outer areas black with white or gray mildew. For the appropriate lawn care for this lawn disease aerate your lawn. Do not over fertilize or over water the diseased area. You also want to reduce nitrogen applications.

Snow Mold – You will see white or pink spots on your lawn in spring. To prevent this lawn disease cut your grass short in fall and do not remove the clippings. Do not fertilize your lawn after mid summer and improve your drainage.

Fusarium blight – This lawn disease is characterized by red-brown rings with healthy grass in the center. This lawn disease tends to strike during drought. The appropriate lawn care in this situation is to water you lawn frequently and reseed affected areas with disease resistant seeds.

Stripe smut – Grass blades appear to be striped when this lawn disease strikes. The strips open into black powder like areas and the grass may wilt. Lawn care to combat this lawn disease begins with aeration. Be sure not to over water the area and remove all infected thatch.

Slime molds – Slimy patches in white, gray, or yellow will be seen on your lawn when this lawn disease strikes. When the slime dries it looks gray, yellow or black. Aerate regularly and remove any thatch. Cut your grass to the lowest recommended height possible.

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