Lawn and Yard Care

Every lawn gets brown spots here and there; some more visible than others… …but what causes them? Could it be lawn fungus or disease and will it kill your grass? Here are a few simple tips regarding lawn fungus and diseases that can creep into your turf during the later spring and summer.

Heavy amounts of spring rain mixed with temperatures in the high 70s and 80s set up the perfect breeding ground for many common lawn fungus problems. Stir in some humidity, and you have a very good chance of starting a ’science project’ under your lawn.

Common lawn fungus problems across most of the country are rust disease, red thread, summer patch, and dollar spot. The good new is, however, none of these will do major damage to your turf if you are willing to do a little work and change some of your habits, as well as allow your lawn care company to assist you.

Though we may wish for it, good weather is not always in your lawn’s favor. But you can make weekly adjustments to your own lawn care regimen to counter-act bad weather conditions. Mow your lawn tall and irrigate consistently and deeply. Never water at night and catch clippings when disease is present.

Granular fungicides available at your local home center or from your lawn care treatment company will work to prevent a majority of disease problems, but timing is crucial. It is best to get an application down prior the onset of disease in the turf, meaning you should get some down in later May or early June if possible. A second granular fungicide application may also be required in July or August.

It is also a good idea to feed your lawn with plenty of nitrogen during times when lawn fungus pressure is high. Nitrogen helps the lawn grow, thus passing through any disease problems effecting it. If you are stumped by how much nitrogen to apply or what products to you, consult your local lawn care pro for advice.

Finally, we need to have a look at your lawn’s thatch layer. All lawns have thatch, which is the layer of dead grass, leaves and other stuff that sits right on the soil at the base of the grass plants themselves.

Proper amounts of thatch are good. Thatch keeps the turf’s roots shaded during very sunny days and maintains moisture levels, but too much will harbor disease. If your thatch layer is more than one-half-inch thick, it is time to aerate your lawn.

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.

Whatever you do, dont panic if you see a few brown spots popping up in your lawn. Turf grass is very forgiving and tends to recover from most anything. Lawn care doesnt have to be stressful. Just be sure to do your part with the mowing and watering and your lawn will stand up straight tall and green all year long.