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Combatting Lawn Fungal Diseases

Turf care is important for your lawn, and a major part of it is knowing how to deal with lawn fungus. Fungus can grow anywhere, but poor lawn care can allow it to grow exponentially. Fungal lawn diseases can kill your lawn and turn your landscape into an eyesore, so you should learn how to combat them quickly and efficiently. Read this guide to learn more about lawn fungus, and see what you can do if an outbreak takes place.

What Causes Lawn Fungus Outbreaks?

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Before you do anything else, it is important that you understand what causes fungus to grow in the first place. Fungi and spores naturally form in your yard, and in most situations, they are relatively harmless. However, certain circumstances can allow them to spread rapidly, leading to lawn fungal diseases that are hard to deal with.

For example, cutting your lawn to an extremely low height can allow fungi to grow at a faster rate than normal. In addition, applying too much fertilizer to your soil can have a similar result.

Droughts can also allow the lawn fungus to grow exponentially. Do not apply too much water though, because an overabundance of it can give the fungus a chance to spread much quicker.

Identifying the Fungus

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Lawn fungus can take on many appearances, and while some variations are very easy to spot, others are not easy to identify. Lawn fungus will commonly take the form of ring-shaped patches in the grass that are either yellow or brown. This type is most common during the summer, when the humidity levels are at their highest.

Lawn fungus can also take the form of dark, greasy patches of grass growing in your yard. Patches of thin, discolored grass can also be a sign that the fungus is growing out of control. Another way to identify a fungus outbreak is spotting red threads in your lawn during humid periods.

If you spot any of these strange marks, call a landscaper immediately to check your yard. Not all lawn damage can be attributed to fungus, so calling in a landscaping expert is advised before you take any actions.

Preventing & Treating Lawn Fungal Diseases

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If you are dealing with a fungus outbreak in your yard, you can remedy the issue through better lawn maintenance. Not only will this help you get rid of lingering fungi, it will also prevent an outbreak from occurring again.

Always be mindful of how much water you are using to care for your lawn, and make sure you do not overwater or underwater. Apply just the right amount of water for the best results. When applying fertilizer, try to put down an even layer, and avoid using too much of it at once.

Aerating your lawn is also a good idea, since it loosens up the soil and allows it to absorb more nutrients, which lets the grass grow evenly. In addition, avoid cutting your lawn too short next time you have to mow the lawn. Finally, the type of grass you are growing may not match up with the climate in your area, so consider planting a new type that suits your landscape better.

Spraying & Killing Lawn Fungus

If the lawn fungus will not go away after doing everything mentioned above, you may need to take more drastic measures. Some lawn fungus diseases are tricky to deal with, so calling a local landscaper would be the best course of action if you cannot get rid of them on your own. A professional landscaper can help you identify the best course of action to take.

Depending on the severity of the outbreak, your landscaper may recommend a pesticide or fungicide as a last resort. This will not repair the damage done to your lawn, but it will kill the spores that caused the fungus outbreak in the first place.

It is important to choose the right formula for the job, since certain products are designed to work with specific lawns and specific types of fungus. Hillsborough Irrigation can help you find a product that is suited for the situation you are dealing with.

Need help dealing with a fungus problem in your landscape?
Hillsborough Irrigation and Landscape Services can help you identify the fungus and clear it out.