Turf diseases can ruin the appearance of your lawn. At Swindon Turf Direct we’ve diagnosed, removed and installed fresh lawns through the years that have been overcome by the following conditions. So without further ado, here are some common turf disease to watch out for:
Fungi infestation
Fungi are thread-like, microscopic organisms propagate through air and water making it an adversary you shouldn’t under estimate. If you find fungi on your lawn then you may have to brace yourself for other diseases because the fungi makes the grass blades more susceptible to pathogens and other diseases. Some of the signs of the infestation include thinning and damage of the roots, spotted leaves, and a general change of colour of the grass.
Leaf Spot
Though fungi can cause leaves to have spots, sometimes the issue might not be fungi-related. Leaf spot is a disease that often affect bluegrass due to excessing thatching. It is distinguished by brown or purple spots on the leaves and the thinning of the grass.
Moss and Algae
Lawns that are densely shaded, or receive little sunlight thus have a higher moisture content tend to be affected by moss and algae. The presence of moss and algae can quickly change the health of the lawn because they can spread deep into the root system.
Summer Patch
Summer patches occur during the hot and dry months of summer. Once the set in, the lawn will start yellowing having patches that can be 6 – 12 inches in diameter.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew tends to affect a section of the lawn that are shrubbery and with inadequate ventilation. Once, the mildew sets in, the grass starts to dry and yellow, which is soon followed by a white powdery substance covering the foliage.
Mushrooms
While some people might not think much of mushroom especially because some species are edible, certain special are dangerous to not just the health or the lawn but that of humans and animals. Nevertheless, mushroom often to do affect the health of the grass; they are just foreign elements that are notably visible and thus distort the lushness and beauty of the lawn.
Brown Patch
Brown patch is a condition that leaves a circular patch that looks dark and waterlogged. However, this colour and texture of the grass may change as the season progresses, changing into a dry and light brown appearance as the hot summer days arrive.
Blight
Blight is easy to note in your lawn; just look a doughnut shape across your turf. Blight affect grass in a circular pattern with grasses at the centre looking lurch green and affects and those around the ring either dying or having a brown colour.
Snow Meld
Often appearing during the onset of spring, snow meld is caused by organic debris that are left lying on the lawn over the cold, wet, months of winter. The debris make it conducive for fungus to thrive well into spring. When the fungus attacks the grass is causes the lawn to have brown spots.
Rust
If temperatures drop to a constant 50’s and 60’s F, then even the healthiest of lawns can be affected by Rust. Also called the cool weather disease, rust causes the grass to have yellow strips that eventually split the grass blades.
Once you know what you are up against you can liaise with your local nursery, or landscaping outfit, to treat the problem and restore the health of your lawn.
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