Noticing Brown Spots In Your Lawn? It Could Be Fungus
Chances are that at some point during the lawn care season, you will notice a few brown patches. Have you ever wondered what causes them? In many cases it could be a weather related fungus. Here are some basic tips for you to follow if you suspect your turf is being attacked by fungus.
Frequent rains and humidity coupled with higher temperatures allow for a perfect storm of fungal problems. This is especially true during the months of April, May and June. During these months, your turf is under constant fungal pressure.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All lawns must have some thatch. When in the correct balance, the thatch layer provides protection for the turf roots and prevents soil erosion. However, when this layer becomes thicker than one-half-inch, it will work against you and harbor fungus. If this is the case, you need to get out and aerate your lawn now and again a few months later to help break it down.
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.