Diseased Grass

Documentation

• Because harmful pathogens or fungal spores can be seen, gardeners should monitor and keep track of changes in the grass, as recommended by the University of Florida. A log book can be made of when you fertilized, mowed, watered and dethatched the yard. Any noticeable signs and weather conditions should be noted. For instance, warm moist weather in the spring can incite a lawn disease such as leaf spot. Also, cool weather conditions can encourage diseases such as rhizoctonia yellow patch. Despite the difficulty gardeners have diagnosing a lawn disease, there are two main symptoms that indicates that the lawn has contracted a disease.

Discoloration

• Grass that exhibits circular discolored patches either small or large typically indicate that they have contracted a disease, according to the University of Florida. When grass areas are no longer uniformly green, gardeners must monitor these areas for lawn diseases like sclerotinia dollar spot, rhizoctonia blight or summer patch, according to North Dakota State University. When noticing these areas in the lawn, gardeners should take notes of any changes in the weather, if they have fertilized recently or if they have just applied herbicide. These cultural factors can also be an underlying cause for the discoloration.

Spots

• Spotty grass blades are good indicators that your yard has contracted a fungal disease, according to the University of Florida. Make notes on the color and size of spots on grass blades to help you pinpoint the exact fungal disease. Gardeners can get down on their turf in the morning when dew is still present and look for fungal structures growing on the grass. Look for matted, white fungal growth that resembles cotton candy, as suggested by the University of Florida.

Other Considerations

• Write down when you see signs of unhealthy growth, spots, wilting and discoloration. Note the time of day, weather conditions and date. Gardeners who notice that their lawns contract a specific fungal disease annually can apply fungicides the following year prior to the date to prevent disease. You may see a pattern emerge when you notice that your lawn becomes diseased after mowing. Improper mowing practices can encourage diseases. Cutting your lawn too short or using dull blades cause stress to your grass. Stressed out grass is more likely to contract a disease.