It can happen suddenly one day in spring.
You’re walking outside to enjoy the warm weather, and instead of the green, rich, thick grass you’re used to sinking your toes into, you find a few silvery, white patches. It almost looks like someone took talc or baby powder and sprinkled it on your lawn.
What is this? White is not the normal color of your lawn? You take such great care of your Maryland lawn that you shouldn’t have to deal with this. Where’s your beloved green grass?
The bad news: You might have a fungus called powdery mildew. The good news: There are ways to take care of it, so you can stop seeing a white power coating on your grass blades and get back to that emerald color you love.
Let’s look at what causes powdery mildew on grass and how to treat it so you can get back to regularly scheduled outdoor enjoyment.
The white spots on your grass blades are caused by a fungus called powdery mildew. It’s a bizarre addition to your normally green lawn, for sure.
Knowing how to identify this fungus and treat it properly so it stops giving your lawn that funny appearance is challenge No. 1.
When powdery mildew strikes, you’ll first see isolated patches of whitish, powdery growth on the surfaces of your grass blades.
In Maryland, any lawn can be susceptible to powdery mildew.
The disease develops best on cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass.
The white spots on grass tend to show up in shaded areas and when higher amounts of moisture are present. This is usually when the seasons are shifting – from winter to spring, for instance.
Moderate air temperature and high humidity, particularly in the face of poor air circulation, create favorable conditions for this disease to spring up.
Some of the conditions that can cause powdery mildew on grass, such as humidity and wet weather, are unfortunately out of your control. Mother Nature has a mind of her own.
But once you have powdery mildew, the mold will send spores to nearby plants in the wind. Fast-acting, this can infect other plants and grass areas pretty quickly.
Preventing and treating this fungus is possible with some proper preventive lawn care.
To avoid white spots on grass, keep preventive lawn care maintenance at the top of your outdoor to-do list.
For severe powdery mildew on grass or some that persists for longer periods of time, fungicide treatments are an option.
Taking care of your lawn is always the best way to keep a fungus like powdery mildew from taking over your lawn. And if you do see white spots on grass blades, continuing proper care can help take them away.
But if conditions are prime for powdery mildew growth, you might find yourself feeling lost. Don’t worry; instead, give Natural Green a call. We see these types of fungi and diseases in Maryland lawns all the time and can help you properly and quickly identify the problem and treat it, so it quickly disappears.
Is powdery mildew making you see white sections in your lawn? We’d love to help. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll prepare a customized plan for your Central or Southern Maryland lawn so you can make an educated decision.
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