Lawn Diseases

Why do bad things happen to good lawns? Probably, for the same reasons that they happen to good people, right?  Just as in human beings, sometimes it is difficult to identify the root cause of a problem; in lawns too, the actual lawn disease may be tough to identify.

As doctors oft repeat, the fact that you are seeking help (or in this case, reading this article) means that there is a problem. Identifying that there is a problem is half the problem solved.  Most times, we tend to ignore or wish away problems. 

More often than not, lawn diseases are aggravated by the weather.  Fungi, which is one of the most common of lawn diseases, spreads through air or through water.  This happens when the climate and environment is conducive to it. When all the factors combine, the result is the fungus develops and grows, developing into a lawn disease.

Some Common Lawn Diseases Are:

Leaf Spot and Melting are common and deadly lawn diseases.  Caused by a fungus called Drechslera Poae, the fungus shows up as spots brown or purple spots on leaves. As a result of this fungus, leaves fall off dead.

Melting, on the other hand, starts in the leaf blades and moves into the leaf sheaths. Once the fungus sets in, it is tough to route it out. The best way to remove it is before the grass dies.  Once the grass dies, it has to be pulled out and replanted. Fungicides are the best treatments for this variety of lawn disease.

Fusarium Blight has a distinctly recognizable pattern. Like an eye, a crescent shaped area of grass dies, leaving a green piece alive in the center.  Similar to this is the Necrotic Ring Spot, which is caused by the Leptosphaeria Korrae fungus. This fungus has a nasty habit of reappearing; because of this, the lawn should be well looked after fungicide treatment.  Keeping the grass short and less than half an inch thick will help to keep this fungus at bay.

Kentucky blue grass is susceptible to Rhizoctonia Yellow Patch, which is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia Cerealis. This fungus loves cool weather and newly laid grass. As the name indicates, the symptoms of this grass show up as small yellow patches. The grass at the edges of the patch may be red or purplish red, which can be confused with the symptoms to appear like Nephrotic Ring.

Summer Patch

Summer Patch occurs obviously in the summer, with grass thinning in patches and turning bronze in color.  What is required is adequate moisture to keep the fungus Magnaporthe Poae under control.

The best way to spot this culprit is in the early months, when dew covered grass, and it gives a cobwebby appearance that is caused by Lanzia Spp. This fungus spreads in a circular fashion and expands slowly.  Fertilization can help to keep this under control.

Some of the other lawn diseases are Rhizoctonia Blight, Powdery Mildew, Typhula Blight, Fusarium Patch, Rust, Stripe Smut, Red Thread, Pythium Blight, Fairy Rings, Mushrooms, Slime Molds, Moss and Algae, Dog Damage and Abiotic.

For all of them, there are fungicides available, but the best treatment is to understand your lawn’s requirements and care for it lovingly.