Lawn Care After Snow Fall
Did you know that there is a lawn
disease that attacks your lawn while it
is still under the snow? It is called
Pink Snow Mold, or Fusarium Patch.
This lawn disease attacks your lawn when
it is subjected to long stretches of
cool, wet weather, and often develops
underneath the snow.
You may be shocked the next time the
snow melts to see your lawn infected
with this disease. It looks like rough
circular patches of dead and matted
grass blades, between 3 and 12 inches in
diameter. When this disease attacks, you
may see tiny white or pink masses on
dead leaves and dead blades of grass.
Fungal threads, also white or pink,
become visible in early morning. Blades
of grass become light tan and often
stick together. It can invade the crowns
and roots of the grass, causing serious,
permanent damage to the lawn.
Pink Snow Mold can be spread on lawn
equipment, on shoes, animals, water, and
even floating in the wind.
Here are some steps you can take in the
fall to protect your lawn from
developing this disease under the snow.
Or, if your lawn has already been
attacked by Pink Snow Mold, these tips
will help you to eradicate it:
1. Avoid applying fertilizer in the late
fall. Such applications of fertilizer
cause the lawn to grow thick and long.
Such growth creates a prime environment
for Pink Snow Mold.
2. Don't stop mowing the grass in the
fall, even if it is growing slowly. If
the grass gets too long and then becomes
covered with snow, the grass becomes
matted, tangled, and damp, inviting the
pink snow mold to grow.
3. If you are reseeding, use resistant
turfgrass varieties such as 'Medallion'
and 'Scaldis' fine fescues, 'Eclipse'
and 'America' Kentucky bluegrasses,
'Manhattan II' and 'Pennant' perennial
ryegrasses.
4. If your lawn has already been
attacked by pink snow mold, apply
fungicide in the late autumn just before
the snow begins. Heritage, or some
fungicides containing the active
ingredients thiophanate-methyl,
triadimefon, or quintozene can be used.
Always read the warning labels before
applying any type of fungicide.
5. You can also use soil bacteria to
improve soil. Often it is good to try
and reduce thatch, improve drainage, and
frequently mow and raking infected
patches to dry them.
About the Author
Keith Fetzner is the owner of
http://www.naturalwaylawn.com which
provides Lawn Care, Lawn Service, and
Tree Care and Shrub care for
Southeastern Michigan.
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