Turf disease spreading after heavy rains

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – All of the recent moisture and humidity we’ve been having so far this summer could spell some trouble for your lawns.

If you’re noticing some odd spots in your grass, it could be Red Thread Disease.

“It’s a tannish, pinkish color. They’re about six to eight inches round,” Ryan Myott with Weller Brothers Landscaping said.

It’s a disease that Myott says is stored in thatch and spreads through no fault of the lawn owner or landscaper.

“Thatch is created from, is a punishment for you actually doing a good job taking care of your lawn,” Myott said. “So your grass shoots are overgrowing faster than they can so they release those and that’s what causes thatch. That’s what turf disease stores in. So now you have turf disease storing in your lawn because you’re doing everything right and now all of a sudden you stress it out, you have perfect weather conditions for it and here it comes.”

Those perfect conditions include a lot of rain, humidity and cooler temperatures like we’re seeing right now.

“It also likes lawns that are starting to get a little behind on their nutrients,” Myott said. “Which I believe even if you’re in a fertilizing program or you fertilize yourself, you’re going to be behind on your nutrients with the amount of rainfall.”

So, how do you fix it?

“What I would say is first check into your cultural practices. Make sure you’re not watering in the evening, creating more even humidity,” Myott said. “Make sure you’re mowing with a sharp mowing blade and that you’re mowing at a correct height which is typically three to three and a half inches. Make sure you’re up on your fertilizing and if you notice there’s some changes there, great, maybe the disease will go out naturally on its own.”

If not, Myott says some fungicide treatments would be the next step.

Other tips Myott has include not watering your lawn while it’s raining and mowing as often as you can, but not while your lawn is wet.

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