DEL Articles

All lawns get a few brown patches during the growing season and chances are you’ve tried to identify the cause. The truth is that brown spots can show up for any number of reasons, but more often than not, it is due to a fungus problem. Here are some quick tips to help you should your lawn develop a disease issue this year.

It rains a lot in the spring right? And because of that, fungal problems abound. Throw in a few 70 degree days and some humidity and you are looking at a perfect breeding habitat for lawn disease.

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.

Since we can’t control Mother Nature and her weather patterns, we need to make effective choices where we can control the outcome. Mowing high and watering consistently, but deeply and never at night are just 2 of the best ways to help control lawn diseases. In addition, you should bag or catch your lawn clippings when conditions are favorable for disease development.

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.

Soil nitrogen is also an important factor in keeping lawn diseases to a minimum. Proper amounts of nitrogen allow grass to basically, “grow through” the fungus problems before they become a problem. You lawn care provider can adjust the rates on the fertilizer he is using for you according to the disease pressure and type present in your lawn.

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.

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.

Aeration is a mechanical process whereby cores of soil are removed from the lawn. During this process, holes are punched in the thatch layer, effectively reducing it without complete elimination. Your lawn care pro can aerate your lawn at any time during the year, as long as the machine can pull a good plug. This is typically in the spring and fall. If you are unable aerate your lawn and your thatch layer is very thick and spongy, it’s time to buy a rake and get to work! I never recommend power raking for a thatch problem unless it is severe.

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.