If your lawn has been looking less than lush, it could be a sign that there’s a fungus among us.
Fungus can take your lawn from being the envy of the block to an unsightly eyesore quickly, but if you can spot the problem, you can prevent it from taking over.
While fungus is an ugly problem, it’s not likely to permanently damage your lawn unless you let it get out of control.
Read on to learn more about common lawn fungus in the Upper Midwest, how to identify fungus reliably, and steps you can take to protect your lawn.
There are three main factors when it comes to lawn fungus: heat, humidity and moisture. Those conditions are ideal for lawn fungus to thrive and spread.
That’s why fungus typically starts to appear in the early spring when the temperatures start to rise and can show up all the way into late summer.
By the time fall rolls around and the weather cools off, fungus is much less likely to cause you trouble.
Fungal disease often looks like dead or dying patches in the lawn, but the answer to these issues is NOT more water! Watering can actually spread spores around, leaving even more of your lawn susceptible to ugly fungus damage.
Sometimes appearing as brown areas or thin grass, fungus might look like pest damage, a thinning lawn or even drought damage.
Watering brown areas is a common fix, but if your lawn is already receiving a lot of water, those brown areas might be infected by fungus, a symptom of overwatering.
That’s why it’s important to know what you’re dealing with before you try to treat on your own.
Here are some of the most common fungi found in Eau Claire, WI:
One of the most common and easy to spot fungi is the aptly named Brown Patch (or Brown Spot), which looks like, you guessed it, brown spots or patches.
If you’ve recently amped up your irrigation or have had a lot of rain, you can start to see random brown spots in the grass. They can be of any size, but are always irregular in shape.
Brown Patch can appear within a day or two and range in size from a few inches to several feet across.
Just like Brown Patch, Dollar Spot takes its name from its appearance. Starting off as small brown patches, they can expand and become shaped like an old silver dollar coin.
Although they can get much larger, reaching up to 12 inches in diameter. You may notice a slightly sunken appearance with a reddish-brown border as well.
Pink or reddish strands appearing on the tips of grass blades are a sure sign of red thread in the lawn.
Red Thread can lead to tan or pinkish patches in the yard that can be as small as a few inches across or as large as 2 feet.
One of the deadliest fungal diseases in Kentucky Bluegrass, Necrotic Ring Spot causes circular patches of dead grass while leaving healthy green grass in the center.
It starts as light green or straw-colored spots or patches that eventually die.
This fungal disease can recur year after year if left untreated, making it crucial to identify it for proper care.
Rust fungus spores add a reddish-brown or rusty colored powder to lawns, making the grass unsightly and potentially staining your clothes and shoes.
Due to its powdery nature, it can spread easily, traveling lightly on the wind.
This is one of the most common diseases in Eau Claire lawns and includes a range of fungus issues that start out with discoloration and kill blades of grass from the tips down.
The result is straw-colored patches in diseased areas.
Snow mold is likely going to be the first thing you notice in the spring.
Appearing as circular gray or tan patches that can range from a few inches to a foot wide, Snow Mold caused by extended snow cover on unfrozen ground.
Oftentimes, fungus will go away on its own when the weather changes, but that could take several weeks in the Eau Claire area, especially during the dog days of summer.
To control lawn fungus and help your lawn bounce back, the first step is to identify the problem and then develop an appropriate solution.
Cultural practices are the first line of defense before exploring any professional lawn fungicide chemicals. Think of fungicide like a medication. When you get sick, you often need to take multiple pills before you start feeling better.
It’s the same with fungicides — treatments require multiple lawn fungus treatments and can get expensive.
Oftentimes, you can get rid of fungus issues simply by adjusting watering or mowing practices. Bagging lawn clippings, for example, can help slow the spread of fungus, as can cutting grass to the right height.
But it all starts with identifying the issue. Sometimes fungus invades a lawn because it is under-fertilized. Just like people, lawns need proper nutrition to stay healthy and fight off disease. Another underlying issue could be overwatering, leaving the lawn damp and creating a breeding ground for fungus.
At the end of the day, most fungus issues will resolve themselves without killing your grass. So while you want to take the proper precautions, there’s no need to panic!
In more severe cases, aeration or overseeding may be necessary to give your lawn the boost it needs to fight fungus. You may also want to explore overseeding with grass varieties that might be more resistant to fungus issues in the future.
A healthy lawn is the best defense against any kind of disease, fungal or otherwise.
Fertilize – A good application of a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer two to four times a year helps cool season grasses grow big and strong. The spring applications help it gear up for spring growth, while fall applications help grass store up nutrients for the winter.
Water – Yes, you can have too much of a good thing. Overwatering can leave grass soggy for long periods and susceptible to diseases. Watering in the morning is also key to allowing lawns to dry out before night falls and temperatures drop.
Aeration – Let your lawn breathe a little by reducing the amount of thatch. This helps prevent the moist conditions fungus loves.
Mow – The ideal height for grass is about 4 inches – not too short but not so long that moisture gets trapped. And never mow in wet conditions!
While a little fungus isn’t likely to permanently damage your lawn, a healthy stand of turf is much more likely to recover and bounce back faster, no matter what kind of disease comes its way. When it comes to your lawn, the best offense is a good defense and we’re on your team!
If you want to take the guesswork out of a healthy lawn in the Eau Claire area, we’re standing by to help you give your grass everything it needs.
From fertilization to weed control to irrigation, our trained experts can create the perfect program just for you. We’ll come out, assess your situation and give you options so that you can choose what works best for your lawn and your budget.
Don’t give fungus a chance to take hold in your lawn! Protect your property and your peace of mind with a customized plan and request your free quote today.
Image Sources | Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, Red Thread, Necrotic Ring Spot, Rust, Snow Mold