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Don’t let rust disease ruin
your lawns appearance!
Rust diseases affect all turf grass species. Severe infection thins the turf but
does not attack the roots. Early symptoms appear as yellow flecks on leaf
blades. As the disease advances, yellow, orange or dark red postludes split
open. The colored powdery spores will rub off on your fingers. Severely infected
lawns will turn an orange/brown color and show signs of thinning. There are some
things that promote disease. Those are leaf wetness from long evening dew
periods, Hot and dry conditions, and slow growing turf. Outbreaks are most
common in late summer or early fall.
There are preventative measures you can take to lessen the severity of the
disease. You should water deeply without causing moisture stress. Avoid early
evening watering. Mow frequently to the recommended mowing height. Incorporate
management practices that encourage leaf growth. It would be a good idea to
fertilize to maintain appropriate nutrient levels and aerate to relieve
compacted soils. Seed thinned turf with disease resistant cultivars.
Lawn King, LLC performs turf
disease scouting when we perform each fertilizer application. If there is a
problem, we will inform you as to the type of disease, the severity and if
treatment is required. Of course, as a team, (you and I) if you notice a
problem, you should contact us immediately. |
