Fungal Disease In Lawns
Fungal disease in lawns, for the most part, are not common in residential lawns across Australia.
Unfortunately, when the conditions are right, the odd fungal issue will rear its head. Some turf varieties are more susceptible than others and some areas are prone to suffer more than others too.
When these turf diseases take hold, it is important that you identify the particular condition and target it with an appropriate response quickly.
What causes fungal disease?
The most common reasons fungal diseases occur are:
- Weather conditions
- Overwatering
- Overfertilising or using the wrong type of fertiliser
- Incompatible grass varieties for your area
- Poor mowing habits
Fungal related symptoms to look out for:
Coloured patches or rings in your lawn
- Powdery coatings or threads on the grass blade surface
- Thinned out areas, or areas of wet or slimy looking turf
- Leaf blades with irregular discolouration or texture
Treatment
It is important that you identify the specific fungal disease that you have so that you can take the correct steps to rectify and eradicate the disease. For most everyday lawn owners, there are a few treatment steps which will be common across a broad range of fungal diseases.
These include:
Aeration
Loosening of the soil to remove compaction and improve drainage. Aeration will improve your lawns ability to absorb water, nutrient and oxygen which will help your lawn stay healthier.
Fertilising
Remove thatch
Irrigation and Shade Management
Fungicide application
Mow The Lawn Regularly
This cannot be stressed enough.
Cutting the grass regularly is by far the most important part of maintaining a healthy lawn.
With regular cutting, the grass cant grow upwards so is forced to grow sideways, creating new roots, shoots and leaves.
Grass leaves are like solar panels that trap sunlight which it uses to create and store food. The more grass in the lawn, the healthier and more resistant to diseases it will be.
What Causes Grass Fungus
Fungus is an active microorganism that can be found naturally on lawns. Some of them are quite harmless and contribute to the wellbeing and growth of your grass by supplying nutrients.
However, under the wrong conditions, these fungi can cause diseases that lead to the disruption to the growth of your grass. Some of the common causes of grass fungus I have noticed include:
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Symptoms Of Brown Patch
Brown patch appears as irregular circular patches in the lawn that are brownish yellow in color and range from 6 inches to several feet in diameter. The affected leaves usually remain upright, and close inspection shows lesions on the leaves that are tan in color and irregular in shape with a dark brown border. White, cottony, mycelium can be found on dew-covered turf in the early part of the morning.
Brown patch is notable for a distinctive smoke ring border that is sometimes visible on the outer edge, giving the patch a frog-eye appearance. The ring itself is typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and is most visible in the morning. Sometimes grass within the ring is entirely killed, creating a sunken look to the patch, but more often the grass inside the patch simply becomes thinner than the surrounding lawn.
How Do I Get Rid Of Red Thread Disease
Almost any lawn is susceptible to this turf fungus. However, it isnt uncommon for some lawns to have more issues than neighboring properties. Property owners often wonder what can be done to get rid of Red Thread on lawns when it shows up. The remedy is to disrupt the disease triangle so that this fungus stops growing. The disease triangle is used to illustrate how fungi grows on plants, in this particular case, your lawn. The susceptible host are grass plants that are lacking in nitrogen and have started to not grow as aggressively as they have in the months prior. The pathogen is present in the thatch layer of a lawn and impossible to completely remove. When the plant is weak, and the temperature and relative humidity is favorable, Red Thread will begin and continue to grow.
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Identify Pest Problems Correctly
- Inspect your lawn often to detect pests and other problems early.
- Plant damage may not be caused by pests. Plants can be injured by poor growing conditions, poor maintenance practices, or environmental problems .
- You need to identify the pest to look up information that will help you decide how to control the pest and to prevent further problems. See Pest control tips for information about specific insect pests.
- Beneficial insects may be mistaken for pests. For example, ants are sometimes considered pests because they make visible mounds on lawns. But they do not attack the grass.
- In a healthy lawn, beneficial insects can keep pest insects in check. For more information on beneficial insects, see Understanding your lawn’s lifecycle.
- If you are having trouble, your local garden centre may be able to help you in identifying a pest, and there are many good sources of information on the Internet or in reference books.
Its A Simple Solution
Lawn fungal diseases have many faces. From brown patches to highly visible spots, threads, rings, or slime. How to treat lawn fungus naturally? Grass fungal diseases can be difficult to treat when your yard becomes affected.
The good news is the right lawn care practices can help towards prevention and treatment of lawn fungus. Although extreme cases fungal growth and infestation might require a fungicide to help control fungal growth
Causes of Lawn Fungal Disease
Your lawn is naturally full of fungi and spores, some harmless and some problematic, but the right conditions can cause grass fungus to erupt into a harmful disease. The most common causes of a lawn fungal disease are:
- Drought
- Improper mowing
- Compacted soil
- Too much fertilizer
- Wrong grass type for your yard Using a warm season grass in a northern area.
- Weather conditions
Identify Lawn Fungal Diseases
Some signs that your lawn may have a fungal disease include are very noticeable and can easily be seen:
- White, yellow, or brown patches or rings that grow in diameter.
- Thin patches of frayed, distorted, or discolored grass blades.
- Gray, black, red, orange, or purple spots on blades or stems.
- Gray, black, or pink powdery or threadlike coatings on and around grass blades.
- Areas of darkened, wet-looking, slimy, or greasy-looking grass.
Prevention and Treating Lawn Fungal Diseases
Steps to take control of fungal diseases in your lawn:
Organic and Chemical Treatments
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How To Tell If Your Lawn Has A Fungal Disease
Your lawn is an ecosystem comprised of a vast multitude of organisms, including fungi. When everything is in balance, fungus will not grow. However, several factors may disrupt this equilibrium, causing fungi to overrun your lawn and consequently become a problem.
Various factors have been found to encourage fungal overgrowth on lawns. These include:
- Improper mowing, particularly very low mowing
- Overwatering
- Planting grass strains that are susceptible to fungal diseases
- Elevated temperature and humidity
- Drought
The most obvious sign of lawn disease is a dead or dying segment on your lawn. However, not all dead and dying spots are attributable to fungus, so you should consider other possible causes as well.
Classical signs of fungus in a lawn include:
- Brown, white or yellow rings or patches that seem to grow in diameter over time
- Parts of the lawn that may appear darkened, slimy, wet or gray
- Black, purple, grey, orange or red spots on the blades and/or stems of the lawn grass
- Grass blades which may appear frayed, discolored and/or distorted
Lawn disease thrives when:
- The grass species on the lawn are susceptible to the disease-causing fungus
- The environmental conditions favor fungal growth and proliferation
- The homeowner fails to take the appropriate countermeasures against the lawn fungus in good time
If You Need To Water Water Properly
Many diseases infect lawns when the grass blades are wet. To keep grass blades dry, water only if needed and water deeply so you can go longer between watering. Watering in the morning, between 6AM and 10AM, is best since the grass blades have plenty of time to dry during the day. Especially avoid watering late in the day or at night, since the grass blades will stay wet all night long, encouraging leaf diseases. One simple way to ensure that your lawn gets just the right amount of water at the right time is to pair the Gro® 7 Zone Controller with your irrigation system. It automatically adjusts itself based on real-time local weather data and can be monitored from anywhere via your smartphone or tablet.
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Abc Can Keep Your Yard Healthy
Yard fungus is unsightly and hard to diagnose and treat on your own. The professionals at ABC Home & Commercial Services can help you determine what is affecting your yard and the best methods to treat any kind of condition so you not only protect your beautiful lawn from dying but also protect your investment of time and money. Well cut out the guesswork for you so you can focus on enjoying your outdoor spaces.
How To Prevent Fungus
Water early in the day
Watering early in the day will allow your lawn to absorb the water and then dry off throughout the day. Watering late in the day or in the evening does not allow the lawn to dry and will promote fungus. Because fungus moves through water, a wet lawn will allow fungus to spread much faster.
Sharpen mower blades
It is always important to mow with sharp mower blades, but especially so when trying to prevent fungus. A dull blade can shred the grass blades leaving many openings for disease to enter.
Raise mowing height
When mowing, do not remove more than of the grass blade. This will allow the grass to stay healthy and strong. Scalping the lawn stresses the root system.
Dont over or under fertilize
Use high nitrogen fertilizer only in the spring. High nitrogen in late October/November will promote snow mold next year. When lawns have the right nutrients they need to grow, they are less susceptible to disease. Diseases such as red thread can often be controlled by adding nitrogen to your lawn.
Dethatch
Thatch is a layer of organic matter between the crown of the grass plants and the soil layer. Thatch can appear as a result of an imbalance in your soil or improper lawn maintenance practices.
We recommend removing thatch in the fall. Thatching brings up weed seeds and these are more prevalent in the spring. Use a heavy rake or thatching machine as needed to keep thatch to a minimum. The regular use of organics will help to keep thatch in order.
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Will Lawn Fungus Go Away On Its Own
Unfortunately, lawn fungus will not disappear if left untreated. The most effective way to manage yard fungus is to use a fungicide and practice good turf management. Fungicides are designed to inhibit energy production at the cellular level and to harm cell membranes, which eventually kills the fungi that is attacking your grass. As with any type of pesticide, homeowners should do their research to identify the type of fungicide needed to manage a particular type of lawn fungus and make sure solutions are applied carefully and according to manufacturer instructions. Make sure to avoid overusing fungicide to prevent additional damage to your grass. If you are unsure about how to correctly apply treatments, contact a trusted pest professional.
Protect Your Grass From The Threat Of A Lawn Fungus This Fall
The summers here in South Carolina can be tough on our lawns. The intense heat, lack of rain, and heavy traffic can significantly weaken the immune system of our lawn. This leaves it open to a number of threats, including fall lawn fungus. Knowing how to deal with grass fungal diseases in your lawn is important. Being able to identify, treat, and prevent lawn fungi from invading your lawn will keep your grass healthy and beautiful all year long.
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How To Spot Fungal Diseases In Your Lawn
From highly-obvious spots, rings, threads to dead-looking patches brown patches, fungal diseases can take many forms. Examine your grass for signs of dampness, squishy roots and stems or fine white threads in your soil.
Others signs your lawn may have a fungal disease include:
- A wet-looking, slimy or greasy-looking lawn
- Patches or rings, usually white, yellow, or brown, that grow in diameter.
- Discolouration, frayed or distorted-looking blades of grass.
- Spots on the stems or blades of your lawn, often gray, black, red or orange.
- Powdery or threadlike coatings around and on grass blades
Fact: Mowing your grass too low can encourage fungal diseases.
The Ultimate Guide To Lawn Fungus: Types Symptoms And Treatment
- The Ultimate Guide to Lawn Fungus: Types, Symptoms and Treatment
Lawn fungus can quickly undo good landscaping work. Fungus can quickly spread, and once it reaches enough of the lawn, becomes extremely difficult to stop. Thatâs why Earth Development provides businesses with reliable, professional, and knowledgeable teams of lawn maintenance experts who understand just what it takes to get lawn fungus under control.
We believe itâs important not just to provide these experts, but also to ensure property owners know the basics of fungi identification in lawns and when to take action. In this ultimate guide to lawn fungus, weâll explore how to tell if your lawn has fungus, outline common lawn fungus symptoms, and discuss the measures you can take to get it back under control.
Remember â your landscaping is an extension of your companyâs brand. A badly maintained lawn can quickly transform attractive commercial premises into something that looks run down and old. Whether you own a strip mall, a retirement home, a medical facility or a bank, your outdoor space is just as important as your indoor space â and we can help you keeping it look healthy, well-kept, and inviting.
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Preventing Lawn Disease And Fungus
The best way to deal with lawn disease and fungus is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Often, issues arise due to the way homeowners care for their lawns. Even some well-intentioned habits can cause problems, and making changes can prevent disease or keep it from causing permanent or widespread damage.
Some of the best methods of lawn fungus control to keep disease away include:
- Watering properly. Overwatering can cause mold, mildew and yard fungus to form. Once your grass is established, water deeply but less frequently. Your grass only needs about an inch of water per week. Water early in the day so grass will dry in the sun wet grass is more susceptible to fungus.
- Mow regularly, but dont cut the blades too short. Grass that is too short is more hospitable to disease. Keep your blades sharp so they cut without damage.
- Clean up debris from your yard. Leaving piles of leaves, branches and other debris creates the ideal breeding ground for fungus.
- Improve drainage. If you have low-lying areas or spots that dont drain well, fix them so that water doesnt pool and cause problems.
- Test the soil. Sometimes the problem is due to the nutrient balance in the soil, and changing or adjusting how you feed can solve it.
- Prevent spread by cleaning tools. Clean all of your lawn tools, including mower blades, rakes and shovels with a mixture of water and bleach to kill any spores that could be hiding there, waiting to cause a problem.
What Are The Different Types Of Grass Fungus
Grass fungus is very specialized and targets different types of lawns at different times of the year, under specific conditions. Knowing the kind of grass you have and the weather conditions can help you narrow down the options.
The problem, however, is that you cannot identify a grass fungus infection until the disease has completely taken hold. So to get rid of grass fungus, you must first be able to identify the type of infection and how it works.
Not all fungicides are the same and some are more effective than others for specific fungal diseases. Also, some fungal diseases can be corrected by simply changing your lawn care.
Here are examples of some of the common grass fungus, how to identify them, and the best methods to use to get rid of them.
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How To Get Rid Of Lawn Fungus
One of the most common questions asked by homeowners is, can fungus grow in my lawn? The answer to this question is Yes if you dont take care of your lawn properly, youll have to deal with it. There are many misconceptions about lawns and how they should be cared for, so you must understand exactly what fungus can do to your grass and plants and what you can do to eliminate them.
The benefits of lawn fungus killing by yourself is clear. Its not only less costly than hiring a professional lawn fungus specialist to come to solve the problem for you. If you want to save money, then its best to get it done by yourself. Youll be amazed at how easy and inexpensive it can be. The benefits are numerous, so take the time to look into them today.
One of the most common complaints about homeowners with green homes is that their lawns are overrun by lawn fungus. While it cant always be prevented, there are steps homeowners can take to avoid this embarrassing and costly problem. Many people who live in any hot climate, for that matter, have to deal with this problem regularly. If youre dealing with it in your home, here is an introduction to prevention methods.
