All lawns get a few brown patches during the growing season and chances are you’ve tried to identify the cause. The truth is that brown spots can show up for any number of reasons, but more often than not, it is due to a fungus problem. Here are some quick tips to help you should your lawn develop a disease issue this year.

It rains a lot in the spring right? And because of that, fungal problems abound. Throw in a few 70 degree days and some humidity and you are looking at a perfect breeding habitat for lawn disease.

You may have already researched the more common lawn fungal problems in your area. Some of these are rust, summer patch, red thread and dollar spot, just to name a few. On a positive note, these common fungal problems rarely cause long term turf damage. Most can be cleared up with a few adjustments to your normal maintenance practices. In addition, you should consult your local turf pro should the fungus problem persist or worsen.

Since we can’t control Mother Nature and her weather patterns, we need to make effective choices where we can control the outcome. Mowing high and watering consistently, but deeply and never at night are just 2 of the best ways to help control lawn diseases. In addition, you should bag or catch your lawn clippings when conditions are favorable for disease development.

Homeowners can get good results preventing lawn disease problems using over-the-counter fungicides and disease applications. Just be sure to apply these products early, prior to infestation. It is best to aim for early May and June applications, following package labels of course.

It is also a good idea to feed your lawn with plenty of nitrogen during times when lawn fungus pressure is high. Nitrogen helps the lawn grow, thus passing through any disease problems effecting it. If you are stumped by how much nitrogen to apply or what products to you, consult your local lawn care pro for advice.

The final step in ensuring minimum disease pressure in your lawn is to manage the thatch layer. Thatch is the layer of dead grass, leaves and other organic material that all lawns have just above the soil line, right at the grass plants crown.

Proper amounts of thatch are good. Thatch keeps the turf’s roots shaded during very sunny days and maintains moisture levels, but too much will harbor disease. If your thatch layer is more than one-half-inch thick, it is time to aerate your lawn.

Aeration is a mechanical process whereby cores of soil are removed from the lawn. During this process, holes are punched in the thatch layer, effectively reducing it without complete elimination. Your lawn care pro can aerate your lawn at any time during the year, as long as the machine can pull a good plug. This is typically in the spring and fall. If you are unable aerate your lawn and your thatch layer is very thick and spongy, it’s time to buy a rake and get to work! I never recommend power raking for a thatch problem unless it is severe.

Whatever you do, don’t panic if you see a few brown spots popping up in your lawn. Turf grass is very forgiving and tends to recover from most anything. Lawn care doesn’t have to be stressful. Just be sure to do your part with the mowing and watering and your lawn will stand up straight tall and green all year long. You can find a Detroit lawn care company to help you if you get in over your head this season!

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