If you want a healthy and thriving lawn, you know that lawn diseases are a potential threat. Just like us, lawns are at risk of getting “sick” and dealing with potential problems that can wreak havoc on their health.
One of the biggest concerns with lawn diseases in New England is that they can spread rapidly and potentially harm large areas of turf.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most common lawn diseases in New England and what you can do about them.
Common New England Lawn Diseases
These three diseases pop up commonly in New England lawns. Be on the lookout for signs of trouble.
1. Red Thread
As you might have guessed, Red Thread lawn disease gets its name because of its appearance. It shows up as stringy reddish/pink growths in the lawn. In addition to the tell-tale coloring, you might also notice that your surrounding grass blades appear ragged.
Red Thread is caused by a fungus called Laetisaria fuciformis and tends to pop up during hot, rainy periods. Like other fungal diseases, the concern is the disease spreading.
2. Dollar Spot
Dollar Spot lawn disease gets its name from the greenish/yellow lesions that grow on the grass resembling a silver dollar.
It’s common to notice a brown border around the spot. Oftentimes, Dollar Spot starts out small but the individual lesions can start to grow together and produce large areas of dead turf.
3. Brown Patch
Like the other lawn diseases we’ve mentioned, this is another one that gets its name from its appearance. Brown Patch lawn disease shows up as brown patches in the lawn. This disease is caused by the moisture-loving fungus Rhizoctonia Solani.
Brown Patch commonly affects all cool-season grasses but has been known to be particularly harmful to perennial ryegrass and tall fescue.
Just because you have brown spots on your lawn does not mean you definitely have Brown Patch lawn disease. Brown spots can also show up due to pest problems and even environmental stressors (like drought).
It’s important that a proper New England lawn disease diagnosis is made.
Lawn Disease Control
We know that New England lawn diseases can quickly wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy lawn. Even if you do “everything right,” your lawn could still end up getting a lawn disease simply because the conditions are optimal for one to grow. It’s important to remember that even healthy lawns sometimes get lawn disease.
This is why we include lawn disease inspections in all of our lawn care packages. One of the key benefits of having a lawn care professional on your property regularly is that they’ll be able to inspect for early signs of trouble.
It’s also important to know that healthy lawns can better defend themselves against lawn disease. A thick, thriving turf will be less likely to be ravaged by disease than one that is already weak, thin, and struggling. In the latter case, a disease can spread on the lawn more swiftly.
As far as lawn disease treatment, there are certainly times when problems will correct themselves. In other words, not ALL signs of lawn disease require treatment. A minor case of fungus might actually clear up on its own if your lawn isn’t really struggling.
Good cultural practices will also come into play here.
For instance, because lawn fungus thrives in wet conditions, you would want to avoid excessive watering. Proper fertilization is also important. You don’t want to over- or under-fertilize as it could impact lawn fungus growth.
Good lawn mowing habits are also important. When you cut your lawn too short, you actually put it under a lot of stress. When this occurs, a lawn disease has a better chance of spreading.
When Fungicides are Necessary
In some cases, lawn disease treatment is a necessity in the form of lawn fungicides. A lawn care professional can apply commercial-grade products that will help stop fungus growth.
These can be applied to stop the spreading of the disease. It’s important to note that fungicides won’t cure already-affected grass. They’ll just stop the fungus from spreading further into the lawn.
Areas that have already been impacted and do not bounce back may require repairs like aeration and overseeding to fill in bare spots.
Partnering with a Pro for Your Best Lawn
At Seacoast Turf Care, we want to be your partner in success. We know that a healthy lawn is important to you and we want to help. We provide lawn care services in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine.
While lawn diseases are sometimes inevitable, when you are already partnered with a pro, you can feel confident that they are looking out for the health of your lawn. The earlier that trouble is spotted, the better.
Lawns can be a lot of work, but you don’t have to do it on your own.
When you choose to partner with a lawn care professional, you can let go of the burdens and simply get back to enjoying your lawn.
Want to learn more about what makes us a great choice for your lawn care needs? At Seacoast Turf Care, we service NH towns near Stratham, North Hampton, Exeter and many more. Get lawn care pricing for your Southern NH, Southern Maine, or Northeastern Massachusetts property.
Image Source: Dollar Spot, Brown patch
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