If your once lush, green lawn is not looking so good anymore, it probably has one of the common summer lawn diseases that thrive in hot, humid weather. Here’s how to identify the issue and what to do to get back to a healthy, beautiful lawn.
- Coastal, humid summer region: Chances are you might be seeing a fungal disease such as:
- Dollar spot causing small, bleached patches on your lawn, often in the shape of silver dollars. It thrives in warm, humid conditions and tends to appear when lawns are stressed due to over or under-watering.
- Brown Patch causing circular patches of grass that turn yellow or brown, particularly when humidity levels are high and the temperatures soar.
- Summer rainfall regions: These areas are prone to pythium blight, a serious lawn disease that can kill large sections of turf. It causes areas of the lawn to become soft, slimy and water-soaked, with a foul smell. Pythium thrives in hot, wet conditions, making it common in summer months.
- Dry regions: Typically, these areas struggle with rust, which are orange or yellow patches likely to occur when the grass is stressed from drought, over-fertilisation or poor soil conditions.
Even with the best preventive measures, sometimes lawn diseases can still sneak in. If you find yourself battling lawn diseases, here are some treatments to consider:
1. Remove affected grass
If you notice patches of infected grass, it’s best to remove them immediately. This helps stop the spread of disease to healthy areas. Be sure to disinfect your tools before using them on other parts of the lawn to avoid spreading the infection.
2. Apply fungicide
For fungal diseases like dollar spot or brown patch, fungicides can be effective. However, it’s important to use them correctly. Organic options are preferable as they are less likely to harm beneficial microbes in the soil. Always read the label carefully and follow the instructions for safe application.
3. Improve soil health
One of the best ways to support lawn recovery after disease is to improve soil health. Applying compost or organic fertilisers like GuanoBoost can promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms that naturally fight off pathogens.
4. Increase airflow and sunlight
Ensure your lawn is not overcrowded by removing any excess thatch or debris. This will allow better airflow and sunlight penetration, reducing the humidity around the grass and making it less conducive to fungal growth.
5. Consider a lawn disease recovery plan
If your lawn has suffered significant damage from disease, consider implementing a recovery plan. This includes reseeding with a grass variety that is resistant to common lawn diseases, applying compost or organic matter to boost soil health and continuing with the proper watering and mowing practices.
Find out more by visiting GuanoBoost.
