Does Garlic Help to Kill Fungus in Florida Grass?

Strength Counts

• Garlic has been tested against some common kinds of fungi, although not every kind that may affect Florida lawns. Testing often is done with concentrated extracts or plant oils from leaves as well as cloves, or bulbs. Garlic that was steeped in water may have lower amounts of antifungal agents than extracts or oils possess. Also, garlic's antifungal properties may not be as effective when garlic is used in a low concentration compared to a higher concentration.

Quick Effect

• Many types of fungi live in soil, and some of them are beneficial unless they enter plants such as grass through a cut or damaged area of the plants. Florida grass with a fungal infection may display fluffy, white growths most easily seen in early morning. Garlic kills some fungi's growths outright, and garlic easily controls that kind of fungi. Concentrated garlic oil can be purchased at a garden center and applied to fungus in grass; follow the product's application directions, which vary among brands. Alternatively, crush a garlic clove, steep it overnight in 1 gallon of water, strain the water and then spray the strained water on fungus-affected grass until its area is damp. Straining the garlic-steeped water before spraying it is necessary because crushed garlic that remains in the water can clog a sprayer.

End to Reproduction

• Some types of fungi are not killed by garlic, but garlic may prevent them from spreading or reproducing. Fungi send out spores that germinate and grow into mature fungus organisms. Garlic prevents some types of fungi spores from germinating. In those fungi varieties, garlic's effect is not as dramatic and quick as killing fungus on contact, but it can eliminate a fungal infection because it prevents fungi dying of old age from being replaced by new fungi. Garlic also can prevent those types of fungi from spreading further in lawns. The garlic, however, has to be in contact with the spores so should be reapplied after the grass is watered by rain or irrigation.

No Notice

• Some types of fungi did not have a significant reaction to garlic during laboratory tests. They either did not react to garlic or insignificant amounts of them were damaged by garlic during the testing. One way to know for certain whether or not garlic will kill a fungal infection in your grass in Florida is to have the fungus tested to find out which kind it is and then find the test results of garlic on that particular fungus if tests were done. Another way is to apply garlic to your fungus-affected grass and see what happens. Either way can take time. Killing a fungal infection does not remove its damage to grass; the grass has to grow long enough for its damaged parts to be cut off by mowing before the grass looks healthy again.