Diseases and Pest Control
Many different kinds of pests can attack a lawn. Symptoms range
from dead patches, to rings in the lawn, to a general off-color, such as
light green or yellow. Identifying the problem can be very difficult.
There are a few signs that you can look for before you bring in a sample to a Bachman's Garden Center. Note the condition of the whole area. Look at the grass that is still alive. The grass blades should be an even green color with no brown spots or discolored areas on the blade. If these spots appear in large numbers, the grass may be suffering from a fungus disease. Examine the area at the edges of the brown spots. If the green grass plant pulls out of the ground easily and very little root is pulled up with the plant, it may indicate that insects are in the ground.
Patchy, yellow, or dead areas in the lawn can indicate the presence of grubs. In these areas, the turf can easily be rolled back because the grubs have eaten the root system. Treating the lawn with granular Diazinon is an option. Be sure the treated areas are watered thoroughly after application. Do not treat in the Fall, because by then, the grubs move farther down into the soil for the Winter.
Patch diseases are found most often in Kentucky Blue Grass lawns. Perennial rye grass and fescues are seldom affected by these fungal diseases. Symptoms include patches of grass light-to-dark-tan in color, usually without spots on the leaves. The roots will be shortened and dark brown. Some of the affected areas will have green grass growing through the dead grass. The various fungal diseases become active, depending on the weather conditions.
Many of these diseases can be avoided with proper lawn care. The thatch layer should not be allowed to be thicker than one-half inch; avoid excessive amounts of nitrogen fertilizer, and encourage deep rooting by thorough watering and, if needed, aeration.
If caught early, most patch diseases can be controlled using a fungicide. See our lawn experts at Bachman's for the best fungicide for your particular problem.
The roots and crowns of the grass are usually killed within the affected areas. The lawn may be slow to fill in the holes, so overseeding with a mixture of perennial rye grass, fine fescue, and blight-resistant Kentucky Blue Grass is recommended to speed the repair process. Refer to our Green Thump Tip #905, Repairing an Existing Lawn.
The best solution to lawn problems is to carefully note all conditions and bring in samples that typify the problem. Bachman's lawn experts will be glad to help you solve the problem.
Revised: 03/10/98
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