Common Lawn Diseases and How to Treat Them

When it comes to maintaining a healthy and beautiful lawn, one of the biggest challenges homeowners face is dealing with lawn diseases. These diseases can quickly turn your lush green lawn into a patchy, brown mess if not properly treated. That's why it's important to be able to identify common lawn diseases and know how to treat them. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common lawn diseases and provide tips on how to effectively treat them. 1. Brown Patch: Brown patch is a fungal disease that affects many types of grass, especially during hot and humid weather. It appears as circular patches of yellow, orange or brown grass. To treat brown patch, it's important to improve air circulation by pruning overhanging branches and thinning out dense areas of vegetation. Applying a fungicide specifically designed to treat brown patch can also help in combination with proper watering during the peak of season, normally between November and February. 2. Dollar Spot: Dollar spot is another fungal disease that causes small, silver-dollar-sized patches of dead grass. It is most common in lawns that are under-fertilized or have poor soil drainage. To treat dollar spot, it's important to improve soil drainage by aerating the lawn and ensuring proper watering practices. Applying a fungicide labeled for dollar spot can also help control the disease.

3. Fairy Rings: Fairy rings are a line of mushrooms appear during rainy weather, therefore are most common during our summer months when Florida gets the most rain. They occur when large amounts of organic matter are naturally in or have been buried in the lawn. To rid of them simply pull them up and rid of them as they can be poisonous.

4. Gray leaf spot: Gray leaf spot is a disease that usually affects St. Augustine grass. It occurs from spring to early fall and can get worse during prolong periods of rain. Compacted soil and too many applications with quick-release nitrogen can make it worse. The first signs are olive-green to brown spots the size of the head of a straight pin. The spots then enlarge and become circles or oblong and can be tan to brown with dark edges. With humid weather spores are produced in the center giving the area a silky gray appearance. In conclusion, dealing with lawn diseases can be a frustrating experience for homeowners. However, by being able to identify common lawn diseases and knowing how to treat them, you can effectively maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn. If you're unsure about how to treat a particular lawn disease, it's always best to consult with a professional lawn care company like Greenland Environmental Services, Inc. They have the knowledge and expertise to properly diagnose and treat lawn diseases, ensuring that your lawn stays healthy and vibrant all year round.