How to Avoid Lawn Fungus in Nashville

Lawn fungus can come in all shapes and sizes, but no homeowner wants to see them on their Nashville lawn. Not only can these diseases spoil the appearance of your yard, but they can also weaken the health of your grass plants and lead to other, more serious lawn problems. 

What is Lawn Fungus?

Lawn fungus is a disease that results from weather and moisture changes. Fungal spores are actually present in all lawns. These microorganisms are usually helpful as they break down organic matter to provide important nutrients for your grass plants. However, some types of fungi are detrimental to your yard’s health and can become problematic if they get out of control. They can lead to fungal diseases like brown patch, red thread, and snow mold. Some of the most common signs of disease-causing grass fungus include: 

• Discolored, damp, or greasy patches in your lawn. 
• Powdery, cotton-like, or thread-type substances on grass plants. 
• Grass blades or stems that are discolored, misshapen, or frayed. 
• The appearance of mushrooms and mushroom rings. 

What Causes Lawn Fungus?

Although some lawn fungi seem to appear out of nowhere, several factors can cause the grass plants in your yard to be more susceptible to fungal diseases: 

• Too much or too little fertilization. 
• Humid weather. 
• Incorrect mowing techniques. 
• Dense, compacted soil. 
• Dry conditions. 
• Overly thick thatch layer.
• Over watering. 

How to Prevent Lawn Fungus

You can take several simple measures to help prevent fungus in grass plants. Maintaining a healthy, well-nourished lawn won’t just make your yard look amazing, it will make your yard’s environment inhospitable to problematic fungi and reduce the risk of a fungal disease cropping up in your Nashville lawn. 

Mowing Regularly

Regular mowing with sharp blades will keep your lawn at the correct length. Grass plants that are too short or too long are more susceptible to fungal diseases, so make sure you’re mowing your yard to the recommended height depending on the grass you have in your lawn. 

Cleaning Yard Debris

The presence of leaf piles, low-lying branches, grass clippings, and wood stacks can all make your lawn more prone to develop a pervasive fungal disease. Debris can trap moisture, reduce air circulation, and provide a food source for fungi, creating the perfect environment for problematic fungi to take root.  

Improve Lawn Drainage

Lawn fungi like moist environments. By improving your yard’s drainage and keeping puddles to a  minimum, fungal diseases won’t be as likely to gain a foothold and spread around your yard. If you need to water your lawn, make sure to do it in the morning so that your grass blades have plenty of time to dry throughout the day. 

Properly Fertilize

Fertilization is incredibly important to the health of your lawn, but too much or too little can be harmful. Under-fertilization can impair your grass plant’s health, preventing them from fighting diseases. Too much fertilization, however, can also lead to problems as these extra nutrients provide nutrients for the fungi to feed on as they grow. Overfertilization can also cause your grass plants to grow too fast, further stressing your lawn. 

Aerate Your Lawn

Dense, compacted soil is one of the key culprits when a fungal disease appears in your yard. This condition keeps your grass plants from producing a healthy, strong root system and limits water drainage, often leading to lawn fungus. By breaking up the soil and thatch layers with aeration, you can boost the health of your lawn and make it less prone to fungal problems. 

Getting Rid of Lawn Fungus

DIY Lawn Fungus Treatment

When you spot signs of grass fungus in your Nashville lawn, there are a few DIY methods that can help without using toxic fungicides or potentially harmful chemicals. Depending on what type of lawn fungus you’re dealing with, you can try using the following: 

• A mixture of baking soda and water sprayed over your lawn to help reduce the moisture available to fungus. 
• Neem oil, a natural fungicide (and pesticide) made from the seed of the neem plant. 
• White vinegar for spot treatment, but be careful as vinegar can also cause damage to surrounding grass plants. 
• Cornmeal, especially for the Trichoderma fungi that causes mushrooms. 
• Compost tea to stop fungus from growing and nourish your grass plants. 

Call Southern Spray for Nashville Lawn Care

Don’t hesitate to get help from Nashville’s local lawn experts from Southern Spray for all your lawn fungus control and other lawn care needs. Our tried-and-true lawn care services work to prevent the most common grass fungus and diseases by keeping your grass plants healthy and robust. We can also apply EPA-approved treatments to deal with lawn fungus if necessary. Our treatments are safe for you, your family, and your pets, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your home or keeping your kids and pets off the lawn. 

If you’ve noticed signs of lawn fungus in your yard or you want to make sure that fungal diseases don’t affect your grass plants, Southern Spray Lawn Care is here to help. Visit our website to see more information about our comprehensive lawn care program and our wide variety of other services, give us a call at 615-861-8892, or fill out our easy online contact form for a free estimate on services you need for your Nashville lawn today!