Common Lawn Funguses And How To Treat Them

As a homeowner, it is important to maintain a healthy lawn and avoid unwanted fungi from growing on your property. They can spread and cause an unwanted outbreak that could affect the neighborhood and cause long-term damage to your property. Below are some of the most common lawn funguses you may encounter and how you can treat them.

There are a few types of fungus that you need to look out for in your lawn.

  • Brown Patch
  • Dollar Spot
  • Summer Patch

Brown patch fungus is found in taller grass types, with dead grass appearing in small circles. When you notice a pattern, the brown patch will spread several feet and is easily transferable.

Dollar spots will attack both cool and warm weather grass types, developing in the late spring as the temperatures start to the right. This fungus will cause lesions on the grass and appear to have purple borders making it easy to identify.

Summer patch is one of the worst fungal diseases for tall grass and looks a lot like a brown patch, but it develops later on when the temperature is warmer. They will start to rot the roots of the grass, making them appear almost black from the decay.

Tips to Treat Funguses

If you believe one of these fungi is currently growing in your yard, below are some things you need to do to stop the spread and start treating the disease.

Keep Your Grass Longer

If you let your grass grow too tall, instead of cutting it really short and stressing out the grass, cut just a little off the first round, and then wait a couple of days before cutting it shorter. This reduces the shock on the grass and prevents the fungus from creeping in.

Sharp Mower Blades

Your mower blades should always be sharp when you mow the lawn. Dull blades will not give as clean a cut on the grass, which exposes them and allows the fungus to set in where the grass is vulnerable.

Water Early

Ensure you water your grass early in the morning or early in the afternoon when the grass has time to dry before the sun sets. If you leave your grass wet overnight, it allows the condition of the area to stay warm and wet, which is ideal for the fungus to grow.

Reduce Traffic

If you have a patch of grass affected, keep all pets, children, and vehicles off of that area. If they pick up the fungus and continue traveling through the lawn, they will spread it to other areas.

Protect Your Lawn Today

If you have noticed a spotty lawn in Blue Bell and need the assistance of lawn professionals, contact us at EMC Lawncare today. You can get lawn treatments in Doylestown and other surrounding areas to help you fight your lawn disease and restore your grass to its former glory.