Welcome to this month's edition of Timely Tips!  This month we address some of the most common lawn problems homeowners face in the summertime with a focus on fungus.  You will also find tips on watering and mowing your lawn to help it survive the summer heat.  Be sure to check out the winner's circle for the "Show Us Your Lawn" photo contest too.  Who knows, you could be the next winner of a $50 gift coupon! 

We touched upon lawn fungus in last month's edition of Timely Tips.  This month we want to show you what to look for and how to identify a fungus in your lawn.  Lawn fungus is brought on with high humidity and warmer temperatures.  Oftentimes drought stress or insect damage can be mistaken for lawn fungus so you want to be sure you are properly diagnosing the problem.  Some of the most common summer lawn fungi are red thread, summer patch, dollar spot, brown patch, leafspot and stripe smut.  Below are some identifying signs of these diseases.

 

Red Thread - Bright red thread-like strands appear near grass tips or the cut surfaces of the grass blades.

 

Summer Patch - Yellow patches approximately 6-12 inches in diameter that form rings around healthy grass plants.

 

Dollar Spot - Straw colored patches about 2-3 inches in diameter with bleached centers and orange borders.

 

Brown Patch - Circular, yellow-brown patches of discolored, wilting and dead grass.

 

Leafspot -  Oval, purple spots appear on the grass blades along with some yellowing and thinning of the overall turf.

 

Stripe Smut - grass blades become pale green and stunted with long, black stripes of spore pustules, infected leaves curl, die and become shredded.  

 

Use  Jonathan Green Lawn Fungus Control to take care of over 20 diseases including the ones listed above.  If your lawn has a history of lawn fungus it is good to apply Lawn Fungus Control as soon as possible to prevent any future damage. 

 

Be sure to visit your local county extension agency website for more information on diseases that may be affecting your area.   To find your local agency visit www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension.

Oftentimes fungus and other problems are brought on from the amount of water the lawn is receiving on a weekly basis.  Your lawn should receive approximately one inch of water per week either through rainfall or irrigation.  The best time to water the lawn is early in the morning before it gets too hot.  This will help prevent fungus from growing as it thrives in damp areas that receive little light. 

Not sure how much water your lawn is receiving?  Try using a water gauge to determine how much water your lawn is actually getting.  You can either purchase a water gauge or you can make your own.  Take an empty can and cut out the bottom.  Place the can in the lawn and see how long it takes to fill up with one inch of water.  This will give you a better guideline for watering.  It is best that the lawn receives an one inch of water throughout the course of the week rather than all at once.

From March - October we are holding a photo contest and asking you, the homeowner, to send us a picture of your lawn for a chance to win!  Each month we will be drawing a winner for a $50 gift coupon to use in their local Jonathan Green retail store.  You can use this gift coupon on anything in the store.  One grand prize winner will win a $500 gift coupon and a New American Lawn product kit! 

To enter today visit www.NewAmericanLawn.com and upload your photo.  While you are there be sure to download a copy of The New American Lawn Guide.  This brand new guide gives you seasonal lawn care advice and helps you to grow the best lawn in town.

To download The New American Lawn guide click here!