5 Ways to Treat and Prevent Lawn Diseases

Here in Northern Virginia, we have some beautiful lawns of which to boast, but because of our unpredictable winters and hot, humid summer conditions, great lawns don’t always come easy. Some are susceptible to different lawn diseases. The key to preventing and treating lawn diseases is getting the right assessment and proper care. Contact AllGreen Landscape Co. in Chantilly if you have lawn disease questions or issues—we can help: (703) 992-8787.

1. Know What Types of Lawn Diseases to Watch For

There are many types of lawn diseases Northern Virginia lawns can suffer, but these are the four most common:

• Dollar Spot—You may see patches of dying, yellowed grass about the size of softballs. Before the heat of the day comes on, you may notice fluffy, white patches on these blades. That’s the fungus that’s killing the lawn. Bluegrass is particularly susceptible to dollar spot.
• Brown Patch—A very common lawn disease, you’ll notice brown to yellow grass patches ranging from 6 inches to a foot or two across. Caused by a fungus that likes tall fescue and ryegrass, brown patch is usually a problem during long stretches of hot, humid weather.
• Red Thread—More common in the early spring or late fall, red thread is a pink-to-red, slimy fungus that grows on ryegrass and fescue.
• Fairy Ring Fungus—If you notice a ring-like pattern of mushrooms growing around a patch of dying grass, an invasive, fungal mat is preventing water from getting to the roots in the center while a release of nutrients is feeding the grass and mushrooms at the edge of the dying spot.
• Mushrooms—Fortunately, the odd mushroom here or there is harmless;, it’s just a sign of decaying plant matter under the grass. If you don’t like them, wear gloves to pull them up and dispose of them carefully as many are quite toxic.

Less common lawn diseases in Northern Virginia (but not entirely unheard of) are slime molds and some powdery mildew. The main key to preventing any lawn disease is getting the right lawn care for every season. A healthy lawn is less susceptible to fungal disease.

2. Fertilize Your Lawn on Schedule

Fungus attacks weak lawns first. So if your lawn isn’t getting the right nutrients when it needs them, fungus can creep in. It’s important to fertilize your lawn 4 times a year, with a first application in the spring, two in the summer, and one later in the fall. AllGreen Landscape Co. can help make sure your lawn fertilizer timing is just right for a strong, healthy lawn.

3. Water the Lawn Correctly

Getting your lawn the right amount of water at the right time can be difficult, but it’s important for preventing lawn diseases and keeping your lawn healthy. As for timing, try to water between 6 and 10 a.m. to give the water a good chance to get into the roots while allowing the blades themselves to dry off properly. The longer the blades stay wet, the more moisture is available in the wrong place for molds and fungi to take hold of. Make sure not to under-water or overwater the lawn; and there’s no need to water the lawn during wet weather. For some really great lawn watering tips, check out our blog or contact us for help setting your sprinklers to the right time and level.

4. Mow Your Lawn the Right Way

People sometimes like to mow their lawns really short so they can skip a week or two of mowing. We get it. Time is always short. However, when the grass is too short, it increases the likelihood of lawn disease and weakens the whole plant. Keep it to about 3-4 inches and never remove more than about ⅓ of the blade at any cutting.

5. You Might Need to Apply a Fungicide

Sometimes even doing all of the above won’t root out a lawn disease and you may need to either pull up the diseased patch and reseed or re-sod. There are some good, environmentally-friendly fungicides you can try as well. If you have any Chantilly lawn care questions, be sure to contact AllGreen Landscape Co. for expert assistance in diagnosing, treating and preventing lawn diseases: (703) 992-8787.