Knowledgebase

Help with possible mold / fungus on my lawn? #879997

Asked August 03, 2024, 8:32 AM EDT

Hi, I noticed these fuzzy spots on my grass this morning. This looks like a mold. Can you help me identify what is going on and how to treat it?

Oakland County Michigan

Expert Response

I suspect you have photographed evidence of Pythium Blight in your lawn and are the 3rd question I've answered from Oakland Co. this month with this problem.  Hot and humid weather conditions promote its appearance. Your photos show the mycelia (white cottony fungal threads) that are present in the early morning hours. Infected leaves become tan to brown, shrivel, and mat when dry.
Pythium Blight affects all cool season turfgrass species and can be expanded by free water, clippings, equipment and shoes. Avoid mowing & walking on turf when fungal threads are present (wet turf leaves). Good soil drainage, minimal thatch, good airflow over the lawn, minimal nitrogen in hot, moist weather help prevent its occurrence. Fungicides can be applied to treat it. More info on Pythium Blight and its treatment in the attached links:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/diseases/pythium-blight#gallery
https://turfpestlab.psu.edu/pest-profiles/pythium-blight/
http://ipm.illinois.edu/diseases/series400/rpd410/
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-109-W.pdf
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/turfgrass-diseases-pythium-blight-fs-2024-0707/extension.umd.edu/resource/turfgrass-diseases-pythium-blight-fs-2024-0707

Dick M. Replied August 08, 2024, 10:51 PM EDT

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