Diplocarpon rosae, or black spot fungus does not just affect roses.  This fungus can affect any plant in your garden that has fleshy leaves or stems.  Identifying this fungus should be easy enough, since the name accurately describes the first stage of infection.  Plants with this disease have black spots, and when it progresses, the leaf around the spot starts to turn yellow, until eventually the entire leaf is yellow and falls off.  On the plus side black spot fungus does not kill plants, but it is very unsightly.  This fungus grows in the spring when temperatures start to climb into the sixties, and does not stop until temperatures reach the mid eighties.  This fungus also thrives when plants are wet for 6 to 9 hours in the day.

While fungus naturally occurs in grass and can be harmless, certain conditions can cause these fungi to become harmful diseases to your grass.  Weather conditions, especially temperature and humidity, can make certain fungi flare up, and too much rain or drought can also cause disease.  Mowing too low of a setting and cutting the grass off closer to the roots can make it more susceptible to fungus, and large amounts of fertilizer can green up your lawn quickly, but too much nitrogen can lower grass’ defense against disease.  Here are some tips to help prevent disease in your lawn: