Just because summer is almost over doesn’t mean you should stop being vigilant with your turf health. There are several fall turf diseases homeowners, superintendents, landscapers need to look out for. With the warm and wet summer the northeast had, fall turf disease could be quite prevalent this year. We have several products that combat both summer and fall turf diseases. Check out our products or contact us to learn more.
Rust Fungal Turf Disease
Rust is a very common turf disease that appears in cool-season turf in the fall. Excess rain depletes nitrogen which makes cool-season grasses more vulnerable to Rust. Rust can also appear in turf that has had low water availability. Rust is identified by the yellow and orange pustules that appear on the grass blades. To keep Rust at bay, make sure you fertilize with nitrogen and irrigate the grass properly when it gets dry out.
Necrotic Ring Fungal Turf Disease
Necrotic Ring is another fungal turf disease that affects cool-season turf. It is recognized by the ring-shaped patched of dead and dying turf. It most often appears on lawns that are seeded with Kentucky Bluegrass. Lawns that have significant thatch or poor soil structure or are more susceptible to Necrotic Ring.
Dollar Spot Fungal Turf Disease
Dollar Spot is recognized by the small, round, and shrunken patches of straw-colored grass that appear on the turf. It is very common on golf courses but can appear on the turf of homeowners as well. Dollar Spot will probably be very common in the northeast as it appears in very moist weather. Dollar Spot can also be caused by mowing the grass too closely and not fertilizing enough. Luckily, Dollar Spot can be easy to control with a fungicide. Being proactive is key so when the conditions that are favorable to Dollar Spot showing up, take preventative measures and use a fungicide.
Gray Leaf Spot Fungal Turf Disease
Gray Leaf Spot used to be common only in warmer climates with grass types such as St. Augustine. It is now much more common in the northeast and affects Perennial Ryegrass and Fescue. The lesions from Gray Leaf Spot appear as grey to light brown spots with a dark brown border. If the disease has had a significant hold on the turf for a while, the lesions may have a yellow halo. Gray Leaf Spot can take hold quite fast when there are hot and humid conditions at the end of summer. If you have just planted new turf, it is especially vulnerable to Gray Leaf Spot. Like most of the fungal turf diseases, Grey Spot is best treated with a fungicide.