Fungicides for lawns protect against conditions that attack your grass. Proper care and maintenance go a long in preventing fungal infections. But patches of bad weather or neighbors with bad practices can impact the best lawn. Have a plan of action for combatting these baddies, and preserve the look, feel and health of your yard.
Just look at the fungal infections that can crop up during summer:
Brown Patch
Brown patch appears as large dead circles of grass. This fungal problem progresses quickly, in more ways than one. A small circle the size of a quarter can quickly stretch out several feet in diameter, but soon, new growth will begin again in the center. These spots are commonly called “frog eyes,” because of their freakish appearance. Brown patch is particularly nasty because, along with yellowing, grass blades have a tendency to rot. This can create additional problems, including bad smells. Thankfully it’s fairly easy to clear this problem up with the right products. To prevent future issues, homeowners should stick to watering between midnight and noon and avoid adding too much nitrogen.
Melting Out or Curvularia Leaf Spot
Melting out spreads out across a yard in wide, yellow patches. It is also called Curvularia Leaf Spot, and it’s caused by the fungus, Curvularia. It’s not typically seen among fescue lawns, but Bermuda, Centipede Grass, and Zoysia are at risk. This is especially common for chronically thirsty lawns—whether due to drought or poor watering practices. Melting out creates a unique pattern on the leaf blade, with tan color running down the center and purple to black edges. Lower blades on the same stem completely wither, leaving the lawn looking yellow and sparse. In addition to applying appropriate fungicides, trade in short, regular watering sessions for fewer sessions to thoroughly saturate the ground.
Pythium Root Rot
This fungal infection causes a lawn to thin out while creating large expanses of yellow, wilted blades of grass. The irony of this disease is how commonly it affects highly manicured lawns. One of the first steps in beating it back is leaving your grass to grow longer. Several strains of fungus cause it. There is not one particular identifying mark but seeing a series of related symptoms can help you diagnose it. Key characteristics are a lawn that has little density, especially if this is a recent change occurring in the last season. Many of the fungicides available today are organic or made for natural ingredients.
This is as true for products used by lawn care companies as it is for those you can special order. Unfortunately, they are not always powerful enough to prevent or reverse a serious fungal problem. Pythium Root Rot is especially common for lawns without proper drainage in place, so a combination of harsh fungicides and improved landscaping may be needed for a solution to be permanent.
Now that we’re into spring, it’s tree and shrub trimming time and a good chance to apply fungicides for lawns. If you’d rather leave this task to the pros, call us at (678) 648-2556 for the right services to apply fungicides for lawns to achieve the best results possible.
