Excessive rainfall in May and early June, combined with high temperatures and humidity, has created ideal conditions leaving Indiana lawns vulnerable to fast-spreading fungal diseases. Humidity, excess moisture, poor mowing, and nutrient deficiencies create ideal conditions. Early detection through regular inspection is crucial for prevention and lawn vitality.

Here are some common Indiana summer diseases and what to look for:

• Brown Patch: Often appearing in hot, humid weather, this disease creates circular patches of brown, thinning grass. The blades may have a dark, water-soaked appearance at the base.
• Dollar Spot: Characterized by small (dollar-sized) circular spots of straw-colored grass. When dew is present, you might see cobweb-like mycelium.
• Leaf Spot/Melting Out: Small, purple-to-brown spots with tan centers appear on grass blades. As the disease progresses, it can cause large areas of grass to thin and die, looking like it’s “melting out”.
• Pythium Blight (Cottony Blight): A rapid-spreading disease that thrives in hot, humid conditions. It causes greasy, water-soaked patches that quickly turn brown and may have a white, cottony growth (mycelium) visible, especially in the morning.
• Summer Patch: Appears in hot weather, creating irregular, circular patches or rings of dead or dying grass, often with healthy grass in the center (frog-eye pattern). The roots may appear rotted.

Prevention is key to a robust and disease-resistant lawn. This endeavor requires a collaborative approach; by working together, we can mitigate disease activity and foster a healthier lawn throughout the summer months. Implement these practices to minimize the risk of fungal infections:

• Proper Mowing:
  • Height: Mow at the appropriate height for your grass type. Taller grass (3.5-4 inches for most cool-season grasses) encourages deeper roots and shades out weeds, making it more resilient to stress and disease.
  • Sharp Blades: Use sharp mower blades to ensure a clean cut. Dull blades tear the grass, creating entry points for pathogens.
  • Frequency: Mow frequently enough to remove no more than one-third of the blade length at a time.
• Smart Watering:
  • Deep and Infrequent: Water deeply and less often. This encourages deeper root growth, making the lawn more drought and disease tolerant. Aim for 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall.
  • Timing: Water in the early morning (before 10 AM) so the grass has time to dry before nightfall. Never water in the evenings or at night. Wet grass overnight creates an ideal environment for fungal growth.
  • Adapt Watering Schedule: If morning watering is impractical without an irrigation system, water in the late afternoon, allowing grass to dry before nightfall. Early morning is ideal, but late afternoon is better than evening or night watering.
• Effective Fertilization:
  • Balanced Nutrients: Our summer fertilizer contains a stabilizer that facilitates a slow release, applied at a reduced rate to prevent over-fertilization and minimize stress, thereby decreasing the grass’s susceptibility to specific diseases.
• Good Air Circulation and Drainage:
  • Aeration: Aerate your lawn annually to reduce soil compaction and improve air and water penetration to the roots.
• Fungicide Applications: Our fungicide applications provide an additional layer of protection against common lawn diseases. These applications are strategically timed to prevent outbreaks and can also be used to treat active infections, helping your lawn recover quickly.