How to Prevent and Treat Lawn Diseases

There are many lawn diseases out there, and most are caused by some type of fungus. The good news is that a few general practices can help you prevent them and get rid of them if they appear. Your regular lawn care routine doesn't just keep your grass green and lush; it also helps it fight back against stressors and recover more effectively. Of course, if a problem gets out of hand, it's time to take a direct approach and treat your lawn with a fungicide.

Before you start, here are a few things you should know about lawn diseases.

How to Tell If You Have A Lawn Disease

Lawn diseases can appear in many forms and can strike anytime from spring through fall. Often, you'll see discolored patches or grass blades, wilting grass, or dead spots in your otherwise green lawn. Diseases might cause brown or yellow patches to form in the grass , create discolored spots on the grass blades themselves, or attack the roots, which leaves your lawn thin and brown.

To learn more, check out these common lawn diseases and how to identify them: 

• Brown Patch
• Dollar Spot
• Red Thread
• Rust Diseases
• Snow Mold
• Summer Patch

Prevent Lawn Diseases Before They Start

When it comes to lawn diseases, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. It's much easier to prevent lawn diseases from taking hold than it is to cure them. Following these basic guidelines will help you protect your turf from fungal diseases. 

• Feed Your Lawn Regularly. A well-nourished lawn is better at fending off diseases because nutrient deficiencies can weaken grass. For best results, feed your lawn four times a year. Remember that feeding too much (especially with nitrogen) can cause problems just like not feeding enough. To help simplify feedings, sign up for a personalized Scotts® Lawn Care Plan to get exactly what your lawn needs delivered to your door at the right time. You can also customize and track your lawn care program by downloading the My Lawn app.
• Water Properly. Many diseases infect lawns when grass blades are wet for long periods. To help keep grass blades dry, water only when needed, and water deeply to extend the time between waterings. The best time to water is in the morning, between 6 AM and 10 AM, which allows the grass to dry during the day. Avoid watering in the late afternoon or at night, as the blades will stay wet longer, which can encourage leaf diseases. Get more watering tips here.
• Mow at the Right Height. Mowing your grass too short can weaken it, making it more susceptible to disease. You should mow often enough that you never have to remove more than one-third of the grass blade's height at a time.
• For most grass types, use a high mower setting (3-4 inches).
• For Bermudagrass, use a lower setting (1.5-2 inches).
• For Zoysiagrass, use a middle setting (2-3 inches). 
• Get more mowing tips here.

Treat Lawn Diseases with Fungicide if Needed 

If you've had issues with diseases in the past or are seeing signs of them now, a lawn fungicide can help.

• For broad-spectrum prevention and control of 26 common lawn diseases, use Scotts® DiseaseEX™ Lawn Fungicide. It can be applied at any time to all lawn types; just be sure to follow the label directions.
• The best way to prevent lawn disease is by growing strong, healthy grass. To both prevent disease and feed your lawn, choose Scotts® Turf Builder® Healthy Plus Lawn Food. This 2-in-1 fungicide and fertilizer can be applied to most grass types at the first sign of disease or when conditions are favorable for it.

Repair Lawn Damage

Once any disease damage is under control, you may need to repair your lawn.

• For bare spots: use the appropriate EZ Seed® product for your grass type.
• For larger, thin areas: use the appropriate Thick'R Lawn® product for your grass type.

Lawn diseases can happen to any lawn, but with a little TLC, you can prevent the worst of the damage. Follow these steps, and you'll be on your way to a gorgeous, healthy lawn.