Fungal diseases never present a good situation for your lawn. Not only do they drain the nutrients from your grass, but they are also a recurring problem that can be difficult to control without lawn management experience.
Remember, different grasses are at risk for different lawn diseases. One of the most prevalent diseases for Texas St. Augustine and Zoysia lawns is Large Patch.
Although the diseased patches may grow quickly and vastly across a lawn, there are ways that your local lawn care experts can help mitigate the resurgence and root cause of this issue.
Here’s a closer look at what Large Patch is, and how scheduled lawn maintenance can help keep your grass green this summer.
What is Large Patch Disease?
Large Patch is a disease that infects warm-weather grasses during the spring and fall. If your lawn suffers from poor irrigation, improper mowing height, or has been over-fertilized, it is at risk of contracting this fungal disease.
When left to thrive, Large Patch creates yellow or brown patches of the lawn as the disease wilts the blades of your grass. Sometimes the grass is able to replenish itself during late spring and early summer. However, regrowth isn’t always the case, and overall prevention of the disease is better than having to re-sod large patches of your lawn.
How to Avoid Recurring Large Patch
Although Large Patch thrives in cool weather, it’s decline during the warmer weather of summer presents the perfect climate for lawn care enthusiasts to take preventive steps against the fungi’s return in the fall.
Drainage Improvements
If your lawn has areas that collect pools of water and oversaturate the soil, its abundance of moisture puts it at high risk of developing Large Patch. Although your lawn always needs a healthy amount of water, it should evenly distribute the water, rather than hoard it in specific spots.
Taking the time to fill in lawn holes helps ensure proper soil drainage and keeps your lawn evenly hydrated throughout the year. As long as there isn’t too much moisture present in specific areas, fungus won’t have the ability to spread and further infect your lawn with damaging diseases.
Mowing to Proper Height
Too much shade can hold in moisture and promote the development and spread of Large Patch. In order to prevent a resurgence of the disease, ask your lawn care expert to ensure that their mowing services are done at the proper height.
Mowing your lawn at a height between 2-3 inches for St. Augustine and 1-2 inches for Zoysia grass will grant your lawn just enough sunlight during the summer to help prevent Large Patch from taking over your turf in the fall.
Decrease Thatch Over the Summer
Thatch blocks water from properly draining into the soil and roots of your grass. When thatch hoards moisture, it promotes the growth of fungus and can cause Large Patch that ruins the beauty of your lawn.
Ensure that thatch is unable to wreak havoc on your lawn through these essential summer practices:
- Aeration
- Lawn Raking
- Vertical Lawn Mowing
Mow Your Lawn at the Right Height with Executive Lawn Care
If you are concerned about your grass becoming diseased with Large Patch this summer, turn to the experts at Executive Lawn Care for help. We understand how to treat different types of grasses and can properly mow and tend to your lawn to keep it thriving throughout the year.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule your residential property for our maintenance services.
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