Just when you think your grass is going dormant, there’s nothing left to do, hold that thought. Take a look at the following list of winter lawn diseases. Then learn what preventative measures to take now to help ensure your grass wakes up healthy and vibrant.

Types of Winter Lawn Diseases

Just because grass growth slows in the winter, doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to disease. Here are a few conditions that creep up in the cold months:

1. Snow Mold. A fungal disease that results from heavy blankets of snow. Once the snow melts, you’ll notice circular patches of dead or matted grass.
2. Ice Mold. Similar to snow mold, only it occur when a layer of ice covers the grass for extended periods, creating favorable conditions for fungi.
3. Brown Patch. Another fungi that survives the chill and manifests as circular patches of brown, dead grass.

Even though you can’t control the weather or how much snow and ice accumulates in your yard, you can help protect your grass from disease.

Preventing Lawn Disease

What you do for your grass now will help it survive the winter. There’s still time to prevent winter disease, even after it goes dormant. Just make sure you follow these tips before the first snow fall:

• Aerate
• Remove heavy thatch buildup
• Mow to an appropriate height for your type of grass
• Remove leaves or break them up with a mower
• Remove debris and large lawn ornaments
• Improve soil and lawn drainage
• Avoid over-fertilizing, since tender grass is more susceptible
• Apply a fungicide as a preventive measure, especially if you’ve dealt with disease in the past
• Minimize foot traffic on frozen lawns to reduce compaction.

Regularly inspect your lawn for signs of disease. When caught early, you could help stop it from spreading, saving your lawn and yourself from extra work. Contact Cardinal Lawns to help ensure your lawn is prepped for winter. Also give us a call at 614-808-4446 if you notice any signs and want to discuss an appropriate course of action.