The shifting weather of the fall season creates the perfect atmosphere for lawn diseases to grow and take hold of the yard you've worked hard on all summer. Pantano Power Equipment understands the hard work you put into your landscaping and wants to help you keep it beautiful. Below are some of the lawn diseases that appear in fall and how to avoid them.
Necrotic ring spots
When the temperatures begin to get lower and the air is moist, this fungus-based disease can kill off parts of your yard. If you notice circular dead spots where the grass has a straw-like quality, you may have necrotic ring spots. Yardcare.com recommended removing the dead grass and overseeding with Tall fescue and Perennial ryegrasses or bluegrasses. Aerating and sparse watering will help prevent the fungus from spreading.
Fairy rings
While these rings of dead grass with weeds in the center can appear overnight and seem like the work of mythical creatures, they are nothing more than a combination of fungi working together to destroy your lawn. As soon as you notice the first of the fairy rings the best course of action is to remove the dead grass and weeds by digging out the section at least a foot deep. Allow the soil to dry out completely before aerating and replanting fresh seed.
To prevent your yard from becoming a barren wasteland, be aware of fall lawn diseases.Stripe smut
Did you notice a section of your yard growing more slowly than the others over the summer? Does that same patch now have blackish tint to it? Your yard may be infected with stripe smut. If you usually use your grass clippings as fertilizer, start bagging them until the disease is squelched. Yardcare.com suggests that you also maintain adequate fertilization and watering. A light spraying of fungicide may help speed up the healing. If the disease persists, you may have to replant the infected section of your yard with a more resistant seed.
Lawn rust
If you thought only metals could rust, you were wrong. While your lawn isn't actually rusting, it can take on a similarly unpleasant color. Weed Pro wrote that lawn rust is generally caused when your yard is low on nitrogen and has too much moisture. To get your lawn back to a healthy state start by aerating the soil to get rid of the excess moisture. When it's time to water, do so deeply, evenly and in the morning.
Goose grass
While it may have a funny name, goose grass is no laughing matter. Once it takes root, it can be difficult to control. It grows thicker than traditional blades of grass and in a circular pattern. Goose grass can steal moisture and nutrients from your real grass and can make it difficult to mow. Treat the areas affected with goose grass with postemergent to kill the already existing plants. You can follow up and prevent more by aerating and treating your lawn with preemergent.
Pantano Power Equipment knows you work hard through the summer to keep your lawn beautiful. By being knowledgeable of fall lawn diseases, you can prevent them from ruining your yard.