Lawn Diseases in Alabama: How to Identify and Eliminate Each Type

Even a lawn that is well-maintained can be susceptible to numerous types of disease. In Alabama, the warmth and humidity can provide a breeding ground for fungus and other bacteria that can decimate your turfgrass and leave you with unsightly brown patches. In extreme cases, lawn disease can infect and ultimately destroy your entire yard. 

Luckily, you can take action and prevent or treat lawn diseases. Below, we’ll look at ways to identify types of Alabama lawn disease and how to tackle them head-on so you can maintain a healthy and lush lawn all year long.

Common Lawn Diseases in Alabama

Lawn disease control is an important part of lawn maintenance. Often, disease begins due to factors that are out of your control, like climate and weather. However, when you know how to spot the warning signs of lawn disease, you’ll be better prepared to act quickly and reclaim your healthy lawn. Here are the most common lawn diseases you’ll find in Alabama:

Large Patch or Brown Patch

These are two different diseases, but they have very similar characteristics. Large patch affects warm-season grasses like zoysia grass, centipede grass, and St. Augustine grass. Brown patch impacts cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescues, and perennial ryegrass. Both are noticeable first as small, circular brown patches, which can grow to up to 20 feet in diameter. Large patch starts in the spring but is most noticeable in the fall, while brown patch can take hold any time of the year.

Spring Dead Spot (SDS)

If you live in Alabama and your lawn contains Bermuda grass, you might have to deal with spring dead spot (SDS). SDS can occur in early spring when temperatures are still cool, especially if the previous winter was unusually cold with snow cover. In cases of SDS, the circular patches of grass appear to be bleached-out, and you may notice ring-shaped patterns. SDS can return year after year, so it can be difficult to remedy.

Dollar Spot

Dollar spot is so named because the patches look like silver dollars in shape and size. Typically, these patches appear more yellow or tan, and are around 1 to 2 inches in diameter. They remain small, but the number of patches can grow over time, eventually bleeding into one another and taking over large areas of lawn. 

Rust

This appropriately named lawn disease does, in fact, look like rust spots are taking over your turfgrass. Caused by a fungus, rust will first be noticed in small specks of yellow, orange, or brown on individual grass blades. Eventually, raised spots will appear throughout the grass. Rust affects both cool- and warm-season grasses in Alabama, and is most likely to occur when the weather is warm and humid.

Gray Leaf Spot

Common in hot but rainy weather, this fungal disease looks brown at first, then turns gray in patches, with purple edges. Gray leaf spot is caused by a fungus on the leaf blades, which, if left untreated, can also spread to the sheathes and stems of the grass, causing it to die out. It can take out an entire lawn in very little time. 

Slime Mold

Slime mold comes in a variety of colors and looks like a goopy or crusty covering on your grass. Fortunately, it does no harm to people, animals, or even your lawn, but it is unsightly and unpleasant. Raking and mowing regularly can help get rid of slime mold, as can hitting it with a strong stream of water to break it up.

Nostoc

Nostoc has an algae-like appearance, but it is actually bacteria that can spread across your lawn, keeping low-growing turfgrass from getting the sun and air it needs. Despite its alien looks, it’s relatively harmless when treated early. It grows in highly compacted soil, so regular aeration can help to prevent it.

Take-All Root Rot

This disease attacks the roots of your turfgrass, causing it to weaken and wilt. If you notice yellowing grass that pulls up easily, you may be dealing with root rot. It’s one of the hardest diseases to prevent, as it isn’t evident until it’s affecting the leaves, and by then may have spread across your entire lawn.

There are other diseases you might find in Alabama, such as red thread, gray snow mold, pink snow mold, powdery mildew, and pythium blight. The most common lawn diseases, however, are those listed above.

Preventive Measures and Lawn Care Practices

It’s tough enough to protect your lawn from diseases, but you also have to worry about ongoing maintenance and the challenges of summer weather and heat? Fortunately, a lot of that routine maintenance is actually a proactive way to deal with lawn diseases and keep them at bay. Here are some of the top tips you can start using on your Alabama lawn this summer:

Water Smarter

Watering too much, too frequently, is an invitation to many fungal diseases, and it gives them the perfect conditions to grow and spread. Of course, in the summer heat, you don’t want to deprive your lawn of water either. Instead of watering daily, cut back on the frequency. Continue to water deeply, but do so less often, and allow your lawn to dry out a bit in between. Two to three times per week should be sufficient.

• Related article: The Importance of Proper Lawn Watering
• Related article: Common Lawn Watering Mistakes

Change Your Mowing Schedule

Mowing is one of the primary ways lawn disease is spread, so if you notice something affecting your yard, you’ll want to back off the trimming and cutting until you can get it under control. If you must mow, sharpen your mower blade first, and make sure it’s sharp every time, as this will cut down on the spread of fungus and bacteria.

• Related article: The Science of Mowing
• Related article: How to Choose the Best Lawn Tools for Your Lawn

Dethatch and Aerate Regularly

If you have a thatch problem, you’re depriving your turfgrass of the oxygen and light it needs to thrive, making it more susceptible to lawn disease. Additionally, soil compaction can also create a perfect storm to allow diseases to take hold. Dethatching and soil aeration are both important parts of regular lawn maintenance to address air circulation and poor drainage, but they are also extremely effective in preventing disease. Dethatching can be done with a special dethatching rake, or you can rent a dethatcher or hire a professional. Similarly, aeration can be done manually, or through the use of a liquid or core aerator.

• Related article: Core Aeration in Alabama: Benefits and Tips
• Related article: Why You Should Hire a Professional to Aerate Your Lawn

Use the Right Herbicide or Fungicide

At a certain point, you may have to turn to stronger and more aggressive tactics to bring your lawn back to health, including the use of an herbicide or fungicide. However, it’s important to remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all option. You’ll need to find a product that works specifically against the type of disease affecting your lawn. Remember that fungicides don’t treat all fungal diseases, so you’ll need to look for a compatible treatment.

When to Consult a Professional Lawn Care Service

If all of that sounds like a lot, you’re right. It can be discouraging to put so much effort into maintaining your lawn only to find it falling victim to a disease. If you see the signs of a lawn disease and are trying the methods listed above with no real improvement, you may want to explore lawn treatment services from a professional provider. A trusted and reputable lawn care service will be your partner in maintaining the health and appearance of your lawn, and can also use their knowledge and expertise to identify and treat many lawn diseases.

How Mighty Green Can Help With Lawn Diseases

If it’s time for you to find that trustworthy and reliable partner, Mighty Green is here. We are the lawn care specialists you can rely on to keep your grass healthy, green, and growing. Contact us for a free quote today!