Lush green, dense and strong: this is what a healthy lawn looks like. But unfortunately, even the green carpet is not always safe from disease. We show you the most common lawn diseases and explain how to prevent them.
Optimal lawn care - a prerequisite for a healthy lawn
To prevent disease, the lawn requires a minimum level of care. High-quality lawn seeds when planting, nutrient-rich soil and regular pruning are the most important prerequisites for a healthy green lawn. However, special lawn fertilizers or an extra treatment by scarifying also prevent the most common lawn diseases. Nevertheless, many lawn diseases are caused by weather conditions. Too much moisture and too little aeration allow fungi and diseases to develop and damage the lawn.
The most common diseases - how to recognize them
Dollar stains
At the beginning of the disease, coin-sized, yellowish spots appear. These spots later expand to an average size of 4-5 cm and leave a yellow-brownish color. The causes are excessively moist and poorly aerated soil and a lack of nitrogen. The dollar spot disease is a fungus that is mostly prevented by balanced treatment with potassium-rich fertilizer and optimal soil conditions.
Snow mold
In spring, water-soaked, whitish patches about 2.5 to 5 cm in diameter appear in the lawn. Larger patches of 30 cm and more merge directly into one another and become a continuous area covered with a whitish or reddish coating. Snow mold is caused by moisture and temperature fluctuations. Mild and rainy winters in particular often lead to these unsightly patches in the lawn. Snow mold can be prevented through optimal care in autumn. This means not cutting the lawn too deeply before winter, using an autumn fertilizer and scarifying the lawn if necessary.
Red-tippedness
Circular brown spots, which can also merge to form larger spots, are the symptom of red tip disease. This disease is caused by periods of wet weather and nutrient-poor soil. At the same time, a high proportion of fescue grasses promotes the outbreak of red top. In this case, too frequent mowing should be avoided and a nutrient-rich fertilizer should be applied.
Rust diseases
Lawn rust begins with yellowish, brown or black pustules on the blades of grass. Warm, humid weather periods and excessively long blades of grass encourage lawn rust because too much moisture is produced. Regular mowing and nutrient-rich soil prevent lawn rust. If the lawn is watered in the warm summer months, make sure that this is done in the morning so that the lawn can dry out well during the day.
Witch rings
Round mushroom clusters of cap mushrooms are known as witch rings. The ring-shaped form is created by an underground central point that grows outwards and continues to spread. A good supply of nutrients to the lawn is the best way to prevent witch rings. At the same time, the clippings should be carefully collected after mowing and moss should be avoided. Scarifying the lawn in the fall is also recommended.
Leaf spot diseases
Leaf spot diseases cause brown, watery patches to appear on the blades of grass. These spots become larger and larger over time and the tips of the grass turn yellow. As the disease progresses, the roots can also become diseased and the blade of grass dies. Regular and not too deep mowing as well as the immediate and thorough collection of the clippings prevent leaf spot diseases for the most part. Regular fertilization of the lawn and good aeration also have a positive effect on this lawn disease.
Do you need help maintaining your lawn?
Contact our maintenance team. We are very flexible and can also accept spontaneous appointments. We are happy to answer your questions by phone or email:
