All lawns get a few brown patches during the growing season and chances are you've tried to identify the cause. The truth is that brown spots can show up for any number of reasons, but more often than not, it is due to a fungus problem. Here are some quick tips to help you should your lawn develop a disease issue this year.
It rains a lot in the spring right? And because of that, fungal problems abound. Throw in a few 70 degree days and some humidity and you are looking at a perfect breeding habitat for lawn disease.
Some of the more prevalent lawn diseases we see in much of the country are red thread, rust, dollar spot and summer patch. The good news here is that most of these fungal problems don't cause a lot of turf injury as long as you are willing to follow proper cultural practices (watering and mowing mostly) and allow the pros to assist you should the problem get out of hand.
We can't control the weather, but we can make adjustments in spite of it. The primary cultural practices that homeowners should be aware of are watering and mowing. Mow tall and catch clippings during humid conditions, and always water your lawn deeply, consistently and never at night.
Homeowners can get good results preventing lawn disease problems using over-the-counter fungicides and disease applications. Just be sure to apply these products early, prior to infestation. It is best to aim for early May and June applications, following package labels of course.
Soil nitrogen is also an important factor in keeping lawn diseases to a minimum. Proper amounts of nitrogen allow grass to basically, "grow through" the fungus problems before they become a problem. You lawn care provider can adjust the rates on the fertilizer he is using for you according to the disease pressure and type present in your lawn.
The final step in ensuring minimum disease pressure in your lawn is to manage the thatch layer. Thatch is the layer of dead grass, leaves and other organic material that all lawns have just above the soil line, right at the grass plants crown.
Thatch is good for lawns when in proper proportion. A good thatch layer will shade the grass roots during the hot summer and also help control evaporation of water in the soil. However, a thick thatch layer will act as a breeding ground for disease and fungus. I recommend if your thatch layer is thicker than half-inch, you have your lawn aerated immediately.
Aerating the lawn is a process whereby holes are punched into the thatch layer and down into the soil using a large machine. You can hire a lawn care company to aerate for you, or rent the machine yourself for around $40 per day. The best times to aerate are spring and fall, but you can do it anytime or both. One last tip: never power rake your turf. Power raking will remove 100% of the thatch layer and cause you bigger problems in the future.
The main thing to keep in mind is that most lawn disease problems are not really a big deal and you should not panic! A healthy lawn that is watered, mowed and fertilized properly will recover from just about anything thrown at it. Don't let your lawn stress you out! Instead, take care of it now, and it will stay healthy and green for years to come.
It rains a lot in the spring right? And because of that, fungal problems abound. Throw in a few 70 degree days and some humidity and you are looking at a perfect breeding habitat for lawn disease.
Some of the more prevalent lawn diseases we see in much of the country are red thread, rust, dollar spot and summer patch. The good news here is that most of these fungal problems don't cause a lot of turf injury as long as you are willing to follow proper cultural practices (watering and mowing mostly) and allow the pros to assist you should the problem get out of hand.
We can't control the weather, but we can make adjustments in spite of it. The primary cultural practices that homeowners should be aware of are watering and mowing. Mow tall and catch clippings during humid conditions, and always water your lawn deeply, consistently and never at night.
Homeowners can get good results preventing lawn disease problems using over-the-counter fungicides and disease applications. Just be sure to apply these products early, prior to infestation. It is best to aim for early May and June applications, following package labels of course.
Soil nitrogen is also an important factor in keeping lawn diseases to a minimum. Proper amounts of nitrogen allow grass to basically, "grow through" the fungus problems before they become a problem. You lawn care provider can adjust the rates on the fertilizer he is using for you according to the disease pressure and type present in your lawn.
The final step in ensuring minimum disease pressure in your lawn is to manage the thatch layer. Thatch is the layer of dead grass, leaves and other organic material that all lawns have just above the soil line, right at the grass plants crown.
Thatch is good for lawns when in proper proportion. A good thatch layer will shade the grass roots during the hot summer and also help control evaporation of water in the soil. However, a thick thatch layer will act as a breeding ground for disease and fungus. I recommend if your thatch layer is thicker than half-inch, you have your lawn aerated immediately.
Aerating the lawn is a process whereby holes are punched into the thatch layer and down into the soil using a large machine. You can hire a lawn care company to aerate for you, or rent the machine yourself for around $40 per day. The best times to aerate are spring and fall, but you can do it anytime or both. One last tip: never power rake your turf. Power raking will remove 100% of the thatch layer and cause you bigger problems in the future.
The main thing to keep in mind is that most lawn disease problems are not really a big deal and you should not panic! A healthy lawn that is watered, mowed and fertilized properly will recover from just about anything thrown at it. Don't let your lawn stress you out! Instead, take care of it now, and it will stay healthy and green for years to come.
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