What we’re noticing:
- Disease! Look out! Our last blog post pointed out how early disease showed up this year but we’re now realizing it that maybe it should have been “how dramatically disease will show up this year”. These disease cycles are usually pretty fleeting but the forecast is saying otherwise. Here’s what we’re seeing now:
- Ascochyta is a dramatic disease and Rust is an annoying disease. They are both caused by:
- Humid, wet weather
- Periods of hot weather preceded by wet conditions
- Check back at that forecast above!!!
- Now check the dates that we’ve reported on the disease in past years:
- This disease is often confused for “fertilizer burn”. It is spread by traffic (tire tracks) and appears to kill the grass. Good news is that just the top growth is sick and the crown and roots are fine. These are fleeting diseases.
- Where is the disease most likely to show up? Where diseases are likely to fester most (warmest soil) – south facing hills and poor/rocky/clay subsoil (compacted or around patios/recent construction).
What we’re doing:
- We’re doing our best to educate and offer solutions 😀
What you can be doing:
These are the causes of disease:
- Thick thatch
- Poor soil and Compaction
- Mowing, especially when the grass is wet, Mowing too low and/or dull mower blades.
- Low fertility (nutrient-deficient lawns)
These are the solutions:
- Dethatching
- Core Aeration
- Soil Enrichment – introducing organic material to dilute clay or rocky soil
- Mowing correctly
- Ensuring nutrient are appropriate for your lawn
