Lawn Diseases And Pests

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Many people know that creating a lawn on a site is not easy. In order for it to become a real decoration, you need to put in a lot of effort: to properly prepare the soil before sowing, choose a suitable grass mixture, sow and regularly care for green shoots. However, it is worth missing something, and the lawn grass begins to ache: there is a deterioration in density and color, yellowed spots, bald patches, or even cessation of the growth of shoots

Deteriorating lawn quality: causes

Lawn grass is susceptible to many diseases. This can be caused not only by various pests, but also by external factors: trampling, excessive shade, moisture from tree crowns. In addition, starvation and drought can occur if the lawn is not properly maintained.

Starvation

As you know, during rains and watering, most of the nutrients are washed out of the soil, which negatively affects the growth of some plants. Lawn grass is also no exception: it begins to turn pale, lose color, and becomes vulnerable to many diseases. In this case, the lawn desperately needs top dressing, which is most often carried out in spring and autumn. Now there are many fertilizers on sale, you just need to navigate correctly in their variety.

Drought lawn

Sometimes lawn carpet loses its attractiveness due to the appearance of yellow cinnamon spots on it. This is most often observed in late spring or during the summer heat. Insufficient watering or too good drainage of the soil can cause partial dryness of the grass. In this case, the moisture deficit should be regularly replenished, but it is also not worth pouring too much water into it. It must be remembered that mowing the lawn in hot weather is not advisable: it weakens the grass and makes it more vulnerable to sunlight.

Lawn Grass Diseases

Most often, lawn grasses are susceptible to the fungus Sclemtinia homeocarpa, which can provoke wet weather. It is characterized by the appearance of growing white spots that darken over time. In this case, rake the soil and apply a fungicide to the damaged areas. Lichens are also a threat to healthy lawn growth and development. As a result, greenish-black layers with a white bloom below appear on the affected grass.

No less dangerous for the lawn grass is the fungus Laeti-saria fuciformis, which can cause the appearance of pink or red small filaments of the fungus in the grass mass. This disease, called "Red thread", leads to a significant deterioration in the appearance and quality of the lawn. The main causes of these diseases are most often shading, too moist soil or poor drainage.

Pests

In the first place among lawn pests are domestic animals: cats and dogs that dig the soil, pollute and trample the grass. Ants, which are most active in hot weather, are no less harmful to the green cover. Their presence is betrayed by the numerous piles of soil on the surface of the grass, which degrade the appearance of the lawn. To get rid of ants, you should find and destroy the anthill, and also treat this place with a special insect repellent.