Welcome to lawn care disease season! After an up and down spring weather-wise, we have come to the beginning of summer, and the start of lawn care disease season. Over the next few weeks, we'll be examining each of these diseases more in-depth, examining the cause of each disease, and the recommended treatments. The first disease we'll take a look at is leaf spot.

What Is Leaf Spot & How do I Get It?

Leaf spot disease is a common fungus that attacks your lawn during cloudy, warm, and moist conditions. This fungus causes yellow or tan discoloration and thinning of the turf. It most commonly looks like tiny little cigarrette burns on the surface of the leaf. This appears to make the lawn look dry, causing you to water more, which only helps feed the fungus. 

How Serious is Leaf Spot and Does it Spread?

Leaf spot can be serious to your lawn IF IT SPREADS! Like any fungus, leaf spot will spread throughout your lawn, causing your entire turf to thin out. Additionally, as the season cools, the fungus will work it's way down into your root system, causing root rot. This one-two punch could spell disaster for your lawn.

What Can I do to Get Rid of It?

A solid lawn fertilization program can go a long way to preventing the disease. However, when the disease does appear in small areas, it's best to treat it right away to prevent it from spreading. A fungicide can help cure the area of the disease and stop further spreading. It's best to call a lawn care professional, like Weed Pro, to help correct the problem.  

The best offense is always a good defense. Keeping your lawn free of leaf spot and other fungi can be as easy as following these few steps:

• Water in the Morning, Never at Night - Watering your lawn during the day or evening hours can encourage disease. Read more about it HERE. 
  
  
• Aerating Your Lawn - Aerating your lawn in the fall can help relieve soil stress and promote healthy growth. Strong root systems will make for a stronger plant that can fend off disease. Learn More about Aerations HERE.
  
  
• A Well Balanced Lawn Care Program - A complete lawn care program can help provide your lawn with important nutrients throughout the lawn care season, allowing you to build a strong lawn that is able to withstand disease and insects.

Other Lawn Care Diseases & Free Summer Lawn Care Guide

It's the time of the year where lawn disease becomes a common occurrence in Ohio lawns. Your best way to protect your lawn is to understand your enemy, and how YOU can defeat them. That's why Weed Pro has put together this swell lawn care disease guide for you to learn how to defeat them. Best part is that it's yours ABSOLUTELY FREE by clicking on the link below. So download our free guide and arm yourself with the knowledge you need!

  Shaun Kanary has been a part of the Green Industry for the past 15 years. As the Director of Marketing for Weed Pro Lawn Care, a Cleveland and Columbus Lawn Care Service Provider, Shaun is a regular contributor to the Weed Pro Blog, and other industry magazine and blogs. 

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