4 Seasons Landscaping's blog

Rust Fungus on Your Grass

Grass Rust fungus is a common problem. This occurs most often when there are dry periods of weather or the grass is low on nitrogen. The spores of the Rust fungus are formed when the grass is not allowed to dry properly. This is caused by dew not drying on humid days. It can also form when the thatch is too thick in the yard. Rust fungus makes grass more susceptible to pests and other diseases as it weakens the grass. There are some ways to treat and help prevent Rust fungus. Mow frequently at a medium height, and when mowing make sure you rinse off your lawn equipment to help prevent the fungus from spreading. Make sure you remove any excess dead grass, or make an appointment to have your yard de-thatched. Make sure you water early in the day so that your lawn can dry out before the strong heat at mid-day. Finally, September is the best time to fertilize your lawn, check your lawn and see if you need to add nitrogen to the fertilizer. Rust fungus is not harmful to humans and pets, but can be easily spread by them.

Lawn Pests

As we have discussed in a previous post, fungus can pose a threat to your healthy looking lawn. Aside from fungus, there are other unwelcome intruders that can bring down your curb appeal and break up an otherwise uniform and lovely lawn. Some of these invaders include dandelions, yellow nutsedge, snails and slugs, and Japanese beetles. For the plant intruders, there are some solutions that could be bought at a local store to kill off dandelions, as well as help beat back the yellow nutsedge. The nutsedge however will be more of a process to remove, since the tubers (or root base) can survive for up to three years. Nutsedge loves wet soil, so make sure your yard has proper drainage to avoid these from getting a foothold. As for the snails and slugs, one remedy is to put small dishes of beer around your yard, and when they try to drink it, they will drown before they have a chance to cause damage.