You put a lot of work into your lawn and you care about its health. Don’t let your beautiful, green oasis be taken away from you, because of lawn disease. So, Weed Pro has you covered with our lawn disease spotlights, so you can spot and stop the diseases before they take over your lawn. This week’s spotlight is on Pythium Blight.

What is it?

Also known as Pythium aphanidermatum and Pythium ultimum, this disease causes serious damage to your lawn. In the beginning, symptoms will show as dark green to purple leaves that appear to have been soaked for a period of time and are arranged in irregular shaped patches. This lawn disease is also called “cottony blight” where white and fluffy cotton-candy like structures, called aerial mycelium, form on the turf grass which is most abundant after a heavy rain or morning dew.  The mycelium is similar to that which causes the lawn disease, dollar spot, and causes brown spots throughout the lawn.

Where does it like to grow?

This lawn disease loves to prey on warm-and cool-season grasses, targeting cool-season grasses more as they are more susceptible. This disease also primarily affects the Ohio region during the months of July and August. According to the The American Phytopathological Society, this disease shows its symptoms after the turf grass is wet for a period of about 12 hours and during humid, hot weather. This disease is particularly effective when temperatures rise more than 82 degrees (Fahrenheit) during the day and below 68 degrees at night.

How to protect your lawn?

With any lawn disease, the best way to treat Pythium Blight is preventive action.

Here are a few tips on how you can treat this lawn disease:

• Don’t mow the infected turf where mycelium is present. If you mow over the infected areas, you can spread the spores with the mower blades.
• Do reduce the thatch on your lawn to improve drainage with core aeration.
• Do increase air circulation and reduce the amount of shade which will limit the amount of time of foliar wetness
• Don’t water at night
• Do infrequently deep water instead of regular shallow watering.

How You Can Keep Your Lawn Green AND CUT YOUR WATERING BY 50%!!

Your lawn doesn't have to struggle during this hot and dry summer.  Best yet, you don't have to water forever to keep it green!  Our Summer Drought Watering Guide can help you save water by watering your lawn more effectively.  Download it by clicking below: