Understanding Spring Lawn Diseases
As temperatures rise and spring rains increase moisture levels, lawns become more susceptible to fungal diseases. Issues like brown patch, dollar spot, and leaf spot thrive in warm, damp conditions. Knowing how to prevent and treat these diseases can keep your lawn looking its best throughout the season.
Common Spring Lawn Diseases
Here are some of the most common fungal diseases that can impact your lawn in the spring:
- Affects: Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and Fescue
- Symptoms: Circular brown patches with a darker outer ring
- Causes: Excess moisture, high humidity, over-fertilization
- Affects: Bermuda, Zoysia, and Fescue lawns
- Symptoms: Small, straw-colored spots about the size of a dollar coin
- Causes: Low nitrogen levels, excessive thatch, and prolonged leaf wetness
- Affects: Fescue and other cool-season grasses
- Symptoms: Dark brown or purple spots on blades that spread and cause thinning
- Causes: High humidity, excessive nitrogen, and mowing too short
How to Prevent Spring Lawn Diseases
Prevention is the best defense against fungal lawn diseases. Follow these steps to keep your grass healthy:
1. Water Wisely
- Water early in the morning to allow blades to dry throughout the day.
- Avoid overwatering, as excess moisture encourages fungal growth.
- Use deep, infrequent watering rather than daily light watering.
2. Mow Properly
- Keep your mower blades sharp to prevent tearing grass blades.
- Follow the recommended mowing height for your sod variety.
- Avoid mowing when grass is wet, as this can spread disease.
3. Improve Air Circulation & Drainage
- Reduce thatch buildup by aerating your lawn annually.
- Trim overhanging branches to improve sunlight and airflow.
- Address drainage issues to prevent standing water.
- Apply a balanced fertilizer according to your sod variety’s needs.
- Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizers.
- Use a slow-release formula to promote steady growth.
Don't Fertilize
Too Early!
If you have warm season grass that goes dormant in the winter, don’t fertilize until the grass fully greens-up.
How to Treat Lawn Diseases
If you notice signs of disease, take action quickly to prevent further damage:
1. Adjust Lawn Care Practices
- Reduce watering and mow at the correct height.
- Improve air circulation by dethatching and aerating.
- Choose a fungicide labeled for the specific disease affecting your lawn.
- Follow application instructions carefully for best results.
- Consider rotating fungicides to prevent resistance buildup.
- If damage is severe, replacing affected areas with fresh sod from NG Turf can help restore your lawn quickly.
- Remove dead or diseased grass before laying new sod for the best results.
- Maintain proper care to prevent the recurrence of disease, including proper watering, mowing, and fertilization.
Keep Your Lawn Healthy This Spring
A proactive approach to lawn care can help prevent fungal diseases before they start. By following proper watering, mowing, and fertilization practices, you can keep your lawn strong and resilient throughout the season.
If you need expert advice or high-quality sod to repair lawn damage, NG Turf offers premium, disease-resistant sod varieties to help your lawn thrive. Contact us today for more information!
