Lawn Diseases

Lawns are never perfect. Even the greatest lawns have some problems owners have to address. Weakened, thinned, and discolored turf are often signs of a possible lawn disease. It is important to be diligent in identifying the possible cause to be able to apply the right solution. Disease can be caused by anything from nutritional deficiencies, drought, bacteria, fungi, or viruses.

There are three major factors that cause lawn diseases:

• Vulnerable Plants
• Appropriate Conditions
• Pathogens

It is much easier to take preventative measures related to these three conditions rather than to heal an infected lawn. While you can't do much to prevent your lawn from having pathogens, you can influence the conditions and vulnerability of your grass. Proper lawn care is the best thing you can do as a lawn owner to prevent disease. You can apply the right amount of fertilizer and water, while keeping the soil loose and aerated. You can also make sure to mow properly and encourage good drainage.

This section is provided to help you, the lawn owner, identify possible diseases that your lawn might be suffering from. This section provides common disease profiles that help identify symptoms of your lawn. When all else fails, the best thing you can do is contact your local extension office. They can instruct you better with local problems and help you collect samples from your lawn to run tests on.