Top Five Lawn Diseases That Can Destroy Your Lawn

Most lawn diseases are the result of fungus and fungus can destroy your lawn. Here is some important information about these diseases:

Gray snow mold (Typhula) appears under the snow that covers lawns as its name implies. This disease results in brown areas and yellow grass across your lawn and may also show pink or white 'fuzzy-looking' fungus after a good rainfall. It is particularly prevalent on tall grass that has not been mowed and can normally be prevented by keeping your grass cut to about a 2-inch high level. Also, try to avoid using nitrogen-based fertilizers in late fall or early winter as this can encourage snow mold to grow.

Fairy ring is a common lawn disease caused by fungus growth. It results in ring-shaped areas of dark green grass that begin as just a few spots and then propagate over your lawn within a few weeks of first appearing. It is not uncommon for brown mushrooms (not the edible type) to appear along with fairy ring. Fairy ring fungus thrives on dead vegetation under the surface of the grass including old tree stumps and thatch.

Brown Patches (Rhizoctonia) is also the result of lawn fungus and gives your grass a tired, half-dead look quite rapidly when it is present. In just a few days, the grass in infected areas will dry up completely and turn brown in color, hence its name. Brown patches are usually the result of over-fertilization that leaves a surplus of nitrogen-based compounds in your lawn. It is one excellent reason to follow the fertilizer manufacturer's instructions carefully when fertilizing the lawn.

Dollar Spot (Sclerotinia) causes small, round spots to develop on your lawn and is also a fungus infection. It, too, starts with just a few spots and then multiplies greatly in the span of a few weeks. Unlike Brown Patches that thrive on nitrogen-based compounds, Dollar Spot results from an inadequate amount of these compounds, usually as a result of insufficient fertilization.

Slime mold produces a yellowish or grayish 'fuzzy-looking' growth that seems to 'sit' on the top of your grass. It is a regular appearance on lawns that are kept too wet due o over-watering or excessive rainfall for long periods of time. If you mow over or rake Slime mold areas, you will likely spread the fungus and cause still more growths to become apparent.

How to Prevent Fungus Damage

In cases where fungus lawn diseases are very widespread, the use of a commercially available pesticide may well be necessary. These are available at nurseries and garden-products retailers and can also be supplied by professional lawn care organizations. The proper pesticide to use depends upon what diseases are predominant on your lawn, but many are effective against almost all fungus infections.

All fungus thrives on moisture and removes the nutrients and moisture that the grass itself needs. Due o this fact, there are practical preventive steps homeowners can take to keep fungus from gaining a foothold to begin with.

Keep your lawn dry by removing excessive snow pack. Also be certain to cut the grass before winter snows so that it stays aerated and does not lock-in moisture. Water your lawn only in the morning so that your lawn has plenty of time to dry out during the day.

Kill fungus with natural substances such as baking powder mixed with water. Applying plain corn meal to infected spots also works. This doesn't always succeed with every type of fungus, so be sure to know which type you have. As already stated, serious, widespread infestations may require a commercial pesticide.

Prepare the soil by adding a fungus-preventing ingredient before fertilizing in spring or fall and before putting down new sod. Proper mulching can also balance out the soil's nutrients and prevent fungus from appearing.

Always keep in mind that preventing fungus from infiltrating your lawn is easier than getting rid of it after the fact. Preventing lawn disease should be at the top of your landscaping priority list. The better your lawn looks the better your entire home is going to look. Now that you have some good tips to practice, there is no reason why your lawn cannot look its best all year round.

Follow these lawn care tips to the letter and you will find fungus a thing of the past. Never again will you have to worry about your lawn looking patchy, sparse or diseased in any way. As you see, keeping your lawn free of fungus such as fairy rings, slime mold and dollar spots is a lot easier than you thought.