By 
If you are someone that takes pride in their lawn, it can be disappointing to see a discolored and patchy lawn. You could be experiencing a fungal overgrowth. The following article will discuss the signs of fungal overgrowth, common types of fungal diseases, choosing a fungicide, and preventative lawn maintenance that can reduce the issue.
Signs of Fungal Overgrowth in Your Lawn
There are a number of signs that you may have a fungal problem in your lawn.
-
Slimy patches that appear wet and/or gray
-
Patches that are yellow, white, or brown that seem to grow in diameter
-
Blades of grass that have spots that are red, orange, gray, black, and/or purple
-
Blades of grass that are frayed
Causes of Fungal Overgrowth
Fungal and other lawn diseases can be caused by several factors including:
-
Excessively wet conditions due to either weather or over watering
-
The type of grass is susceptible to disease causing fungi
-
Wrong or inappropriate application of fertilizers
-
High temperatures combined with high humidity
-
Mowing grass to short
-
Drought
Common Lawn Fungal Disease
There are two fungal diseases that are the most common in home lawns: brown patch and root rot.
Brown Patch: As the name suggests, the common sign of this disease are brown patches throughout your lawn. The stems and leaves of grass will die, and as the fungus spreads, the patches grow larger. The main cause of this disease is high humidity combined with high temperatures. Over fertilizing and thatch also make lawns more susceptible to this disease.
Root Rot: Root rot caused by fungi can be hard to determine as the rotting of roots can be caused by other issues. Roots will become shorter and eventually blacken and die. Grass will be easy to pull out of the ground and yellowish brown patches will start to develop as the problem gets worse.
If you are unsure of what type of fungus you are dealing with or if it is even fungus, it would be wise to contact a lawn care expert.
Choosing a Fungicide
If you have a big fungal problem in your lawn, the most effective countermeasure is to apply a fungicide. Fungicides come as liquid solutions, pellets/granules, gas, and powders. It is very important to know when and how to apply a fungicide before doing so. The most common method is spraying a liquid solution as it gives a more consistent coverage. Most often, multiple applications will be required to gain control and prevent further fungal growth.
When choosing a fungicide, you should look for certain characteristics. You can do this by reading the product descriptions and online reviews. Important characteristics include:
-
Low environmental impact and residuals
-
Low health risk
-
Minimal to zero resistance by lawn fungus
-
Fast acting and effective, killing fungi quickly
Preventative Lawn Maintenance
If you have just one small patch of lawn fungus or have gained control over the issue through the use of fungicides, there are a number of preventative measure that you can take to keep the problem at bay. Normal lawn management tasks such as proper watering and mowing techniques and fertilization applications can go a long way in preventing lawn diseases.
The following tips offer tried and true techniques for prevention.
-
Follow the one-third rule when mowing and never cut more than a third of the blade length in one mowing. Cutting grass two short cause stress on the grass making it susceptible to disease.
-
Give your lawn one inch of water per week, and always water in the morning.
-
Fertilize with the proper amount of nitrogen in the summer. Don’t overdo it.
-
Don’t leave large amounts of grass clippings.
-
Aerate compacted soil and remove thatch periodically.
Following the tips above will allow you to create an amazing looking lawn that even your neighbors will be jealous of!
