Source: Lawn Doctor of Chattanooga
Get tips for preventing brown patches in your lawn
This summer’s weather has been hot and humid, a perfect recipe for Brown Patch Disease in local lawns. Fescue grass prospers when it’s 65-75 degrees, so fescue is especially vulnerable to the fungus that causes Brown Patch Disease when the temperature rises and grass stays moist. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your grass healthier (and greener!) this summer.
We talked with Renata Clark at the Lawn Doctor of Chattanooga and learned these tips for preventing brown patches in your yard:
change your watering routine
“IF THE GRASS STAYS WET, YOU’RE INVITING FUNGUS TO DEVELOP.
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Water your lawn in the morning, and never water after 3 p.m. You want to give the grass plenty of time to dry out again after being watered.
Water 20-30 minutes per zone, but water less frequently than you would in drier weather. Don’t water every day.
Check for pooling or drainage problems. Any spot in your yard that stays moist can be a breeding ground for fungus.
mowing: less is more
“IF YOU CUT FESCUE GRASS TOO SHORT, IT WON’T SURVIVE THE HEAT OF SUMMER AND WILL TURN BROWN. ”
- Mow the grass as high as you can, and mow less often.
- Don’t mow when the grass is wet.
- Mow every 2-3 weeks.
If the brown spots have already taken over, contact the Lawn Doctor for help! They can treat the fungus once it has started growing in your yard. They also offer a preventive fungus application during May and June, so put a treatment on your calendar now for next spring.
For more lawn care tips, read 5 Tips for a Beautiful Lawn this Spring, or visit the Lawn Doctor of Chattanooga online.
