Protect Your Lawn From Diseases Today!

What is Brown Patch?

Brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) is a common lawn disease that most commonly affects grass in late Summer or in places affected by high heat and humidity. Brown Patch can weaken the roots of grass, but it may not always kill it. Over-fertilization can make a lawn more susceptible to brown patch.

Brown Patch Signs and Symptoms

Brown Patch causes large, visible patches of damaged grass. Though it is referred to as “brown patch” the disease is usually yellow-brown patches with dark outer rings. Brown patch thrives in warm environments, in temperatures that range from 70 to 90 degrees. Brown patch is most prevalent on lawns that are moist or wet for lengthy periods of time.

Brown Patch Prevention

Avoid applying fertilizer with too much nitrogen during the Summer and early fall when lawns are the most susceptible to brown patch. Incidents of brown patch can be reduced if you can decrease extended periods of wetness and dew on your grass. Avoid over watering, Velvet Green recommends deep and infrequent watering every other day or at least 3 times a week. Early morning (4am - 6am) is best to limit evaporation from the sun. Lawn typically need 1-2 inches of water a week depending on weather conditions.

Fertilizer programs that Velvet Green offers help to prevent and mitigate brown patch through moderate nitrogen and beneficial microorganisms. Good cultural practices such as proper watering, mowing height (3-4 inches), sharpened mower blades, reducing thatch and compacation (aeration), and reducing leaf wetness when possible. Amendments offered by Velvet Green based on the results of soil testing can improve soil structure thus further helping to mitigate brown patch.

What is Dollar Spot?

Dollar spot (Sclerotina homeocarpa) is a very common fungal disease that infects even the best lawns. Dollar spot grow on the blades and leaves of grass stalks. Unlike other lawn diseases, dollar spot occurs during all seasons because it can grow in a range of temperatures. Though it thrives in moist humid air, it can spread in temperatures that range from 56 to 86 degrees.

Dollar Spot Signs and Symptoms

Dollar spot appears as small, round patches, usually resembling the size of a silver dollar. They can grow to more than six inches wide. Dollar spot becomes easier to recognize when closely inspected because blades exhibit several symptoms. White mycelium grows on the affected area in the morning and fades to a brown-tannish color after sun exposure. The blade will have an hourglass shaped lesion which helps with identification.

Dollar Spot Prevention

Dollar Spot usually infects grass experiencing excessive stress. To prevent dollar spot take the following precautions:

• Aeration: Grass is less susceptible to dollar spot when its roots are strong.
• Nitrogen fertilization: nitrogen will help to reduce dollar spot occurrences.

Fertilizer programs that Velvet Green offers help to prevent and mitigate dollar spot through moderate nitrogen and beneficial microorganisms. Good cultural practices such as proper watering, mowing height (3-4 inches), sharpened mower blades, reducing thatch and compacation (aeration), and reducing leaf wetness when possible. Amendments offered by Velvet Green based on the results of soil testing can improve soil structure thus further helping to mitigate dollar spot.

What is Red Thread?

Red thread (Laetisaria Fuciformis) is a tall reddish “thread” that grows around the grass blade. Red Thread grows on top of grass as a host instead of killing it. Red Thread prefers cool conditions and occurs in Spring and Fall. Turf that isn’t receiving the proper amount of nutrition is more susceptible to red thread.

Red Thread Signs and Symptoms

Red Thread creates small patches of reddish tinted grass that from a distance may make the grass appear dead. These patches are often confused with dollar spots and other lawn diseases. Upon close inspection it is easy to see the red thread. A pink fluffy material, mycelium, can be found on the bottom of the infected grass blades.

Red Thread Prevention

Nitrogen-based fertilizers can help to control red thread. It is often associated with low nitrogen conditions, a moderate fertilization program will help to mitigate red thread. Water that sits on the leaf blades overnight will not be absorbed into the lawn and can cause a variety of lawn diseases, red thread included. For this reason Velvet Green recommends deep and infrequent watering every other day or at least 3 times a week. Early morning (4am - 6am) is best to limit evaporation from the sun. Lawn typically need 1-2 inches of water a week depending on weather conditions.

Although red thread is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, a treatment is not always necessary. The Disease can often be eradicated through regular lawn maintenance.

Fertilizer programs that Velvet Green offers help to prevent and mitigate red thread through moderate nitrogen and beneficial microorganisms. Good cultural practices such as proper watering, mowing height (3-4 inches), sharpened mower blades, reducing thatch and compacation (aeration), and reducing leaf wetness when possible. Amendments offered by Velvet Green based on the results of soil testing can improve soil structure thus further helping to mitigate red thread.