Identify lawn fungus - Ask Extension
Good morning!
I’m thinking I have some type of fungus in my lawn. Can you identify it and inform me how to treat it?
Thank You,
George Kochmann
Knowledgebase
Identify lawn fungus #878208
Asked July 22, 2024, 9:37 AM EDT
Good morning!
I’m thinking I have some type of fungus in my lawn. Can you identify it and inform me how to treat it?
Thank You,
George Kochmann
Stearns County Minnesota
Expert Response
Identifying lawn patch diseases from afar is virtually impossible. However, there are general treatment rules that may help. Most important is to maintain your lawn with proper amounts of fertilizer and water, properly timed, and mow to proper height. Here is a good reference:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/turf/diseases
For fertilizing, watering and mowing, read here:
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/lawn-care-calendar
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/mowing-practices-healthy-lawns
https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/lawn-care
https://www.canr.msu.edu/turf/diseases
For fertilizing, watering and mowing, read here:
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/lawn-care-calendar
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/mowing-practices-healthy-lawns
https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/lawn-care
Did you receive these pics originally? Might help to identify?
Thanks
On Jul 23, 2024, at 1:12 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Yes, I got the photos. The answer remains the same. Exact lawn diseases are difficult to diagnose in person, let alone with a photo. Sometimes it requires microscopic view of individual blades. If you look at some of the photos in the links I sent you, you can see that many of these diseases look alike. That's why I said general lawn health is the best way to manage them.
Here is another good diagnostic site:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lawn-disease-quick-reference/
As you can see from the photos in this site, your lawn could have dollar spot, ring spot, summer patch, or something else.
Some of these patch diseases prefer high pH soil, so you could get a soil test done:
https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden
Unfortunately, if the soil pH is high (typical in Minnesota), there is not much you can do about it.
Also, some of these diseases thrive in compacted soil and in heavy thatch. So consider core aerating this fall, or even dethatching:
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/how-control-thatch-your-lawn
Here is another good diagnostic site:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lawn-disease-quick-reference/
As you can see from the photos in this site, your lawn could have dollar spot, ring spot, summer patch, or something else.
Some of these patch diseases prefer high pH soil, so you could get a soil test done:
https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden
Unfortunately, if the soil pH is high (typical in Minnesota), there is not much you can do about it.
Also, some of these diseases thrive in compacted soil and in heavy thatch. So consider core aerating this fall, or even dethatching:
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/how-control-thatch-your-lawn