Key Points:
- There are many common lawn diseases that damage lawns in Connecticut every year.
- Every disease has certain symptoms that you can identify on your own.
- You should hire a professional landscaping company to handle all the necessary steps to make your garden free of diseases and infections.
People in Naugatuck always ensure their garden looks the healthiest and most lush. But the intense temperature conditions, including the humid summers and wet winters, make it difficult and favor the conditions for common lawn diseases. You may witness it in the form of brown patches on the lawn, fungal infections in lawns, or the most stubborn issues in winter, like snow mold in Connecticut. You can also know the reasons to remove trees before storm season.
Even if you own a healthy and fresh lawn, these issues are enough to turn it into a nightmare. If you don’t know the right way to treat them, you are at the right place. In this blog, we’ll talk about it in depth and will share the best ways to get rid of these silent killers. So, why wait when we can start it right away!
Why Are Lawn Diseases Common in Naugatuck?
Gardens don’t suffer randomly from common diseases of the lawn. Various environmental factors play an important part in making the turfgrass susceptible:
- Long, wet winters are enough to increase the fungal growth.
- Heavy shade does reduce the grass vigor.
- Compacted soil affects the growth of roots.
- Improper moving stresses the grass.
This leads to a quick spread of lawn diseases if they aren’t checked properly.
How to Check for the Symptoms of Common Lawn Diseases
Before we move towards exploring the diseases one by one, it’s important to look for the common signs:
- Irregular brown patches on the lawn.
- Spots or rings on the discolored grass turf.
- Slimy and matted grass blades.
- Fungus-like growth, which can be white, pink, or gray.
- Weak or thin grass.
Common Lawn Diseases and Their Treatment
1. Brown Patch Disease
It is among the most common fungal infections found in the garden in Connecticut, particularly in the summer. This shows as brown circles or irregularly shaped patches, which can expand faster.
Causes:
- Humid and warm weather.
- Overwatering at night.
- Use of high nitrogen fertilizer late in the season.
Solution:
- Trim the nearby trees and plants.
- Always water early in the morning.
- Use fungicides with azoxystrobin and chlorothalonil.
- Mow the lawn at a height of 3 to 3.5 inches.
2. Snow Mold (Gray and Pink)
It is common to see after winter snow cover. This appears in two colors: pink and gray.
- Gray Snow Mold: They are matted patches that appear in a circle. Grass blades look grayish.
- Pink Snow Mold: Pattern is similar but shows a pink tint when it’s moist.
Causes:
- Heavy snow cover with moisture
- Not having proper airflow.
- Long grass in winter
Solution:
- To break mats, do the proper raking of the affected areas
- Better drainage with lawn aeration to prevent disease
- Go for the use of fungicides before the snow
3. Dollar Spot
It appears as small and in dollar-sized spots, which may get bigger with time and merge into each other. This is common in the warm and wet spells of Connecticut weather.
Reasons:
- Deficiency of nitrogen
- Leaf wetness for a longer time
- High humidity levels.
Solution:
- Use a quick-acting fungicide
- Fertilize in a balanced way with the right turf fertilizer
- Water deeply but infrequently
- Increase the height to mow
4. Red Thread Disease
You can identify this as pinkish or reddish threads in the grass blades. Usually, they are found in cool and moist weather.
What causes it:
- Low fertility
- Dewy mornings and cool nights
- Overcrowded turf
Solution:
- Fertilize gradually to correct the deficiency of nutrients
- Better the airflow with trimming and mowing.
- Keep the blades dry
- Only use fungicides when they’re needed.
5. Fusarium Patch
Also known as fusarium blight, this disease shows up in cooler temperatures like the snow mold, but without the cover of snow.
Its signs:
- Circular patches with red borders.
- Blades of grass that are sticky or slimy in the morning.
Solution:
- Remove the dew early with string mowing
- Use the curative fungicides
- Do the proper fertilization
- Prevent excess moisture
Conclusion
Now, we have talked about the lawn diseases in Connecticut; all of these can cumulatively damage your property, but only if you don’t take any preventative measures. There are certain steps that you can take to save your property, including fertilization, aeration, correct mowing, and much more, to name a few. Although you can do it as well, if you make a mistake, your lawn will suffer in the long run. So, how to avoid it? All you have to do is hire a professional landscaping company that has experience in such tasks.
Well, you don’t have to struggle with finding the right one because Garci’s Tree Service & Landscaping is here to save your garden with over 10 years of local experience in this. In case you want to know more about our Lawn care services in CT, you can contact us for a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my garden is suffering from lawn infections?
Such infections usually show up in irregular or circular patches, slimy or matted grass, or visible gray, pink, and white fungal growth in humid conditions. If you notice that patches are spreading faster, it’s likely to be a fungal infection.
Does aeration help in getting rid of lawn diseases?
Yes, it’s actually very helpful for lawns to get rid of diseases with the compaction of soil, better drainage, and increased flow of oxygen to the roots of grass. Because the healthier the roots, the better the turf grows, showing resistance to infections and diseases.
Are lawn diseases contagious and can harm nearby lawns?
Yes, a lot of them are. Like, fungal spores can easily spread via wind, water runoff, mowing tools, pets, and foot traffic. If one lawn in the surroundings is infected, it can affect nearby lawns too.
