Snow Molds Or Black Mold On The Lawn
Gray snow mold and pink snow mold are both diseases that affect cool-season grasses in cold weather. These molds infect the grass and grow under snow cover when temperatures are greater than 30 degrees, advises North Dakota State University Extension Service.
Gray snow mold appears as light-tan patches up to 2 feet across. It may appear as a white mold on grass due to the cottonlike growth called mycelium. Growth stops when the snow melts, but the fungus can survive in the warm weather. You may see black mold on the lawn, and these black or reddish-brown spots are sclerotia, the resting structure of the fungus.
Pink snow mold creates similar tan patches, but the mycelium has a pink shade rather than white. Pink snow mold does not produce black sclerotia but can continue to spread after the snow melts as long as the climate is cold and wet.
What Is Snow Mold & How To Remove It
If the snow melts in your yard but the grass is still covered in patches of white, you may have snow mold. Well explain what snow mold is and how to prevent it from affecting your lawn.
What do you do if the snow melts off your lawn and leaves white, gray, or pink patches behind? These are signs of snow mold, a type of fungus that affects grass in areas of the country that get a lot of snow in the winter. While its unsightly, its not the destructive force you might fear, and there are some simple steps you can take to keep it from infecting your lawn come early spring.
For help with preventing snow mold or repairing the damage it causes, we recommend TruGreen for all your lawn care needs. Fill out this easy form or call 1-866-817-2287 to get started.
Black Mold On Artificial Grass
You may have noticed the development of a few small black patches here and there sticking out. amongst an otherwise completely perfect sea of grass.
Some people mistake this as possible discoloration of their turf, but it is actually most probably mold growth.
This can happen if you havent taken very good care of your artificial turf.
If you notice a lot of these black patches of mold spread all across your artificial turf, it means that there is a serious infestation of fungus that has been made possible due to neglect.
Black mold is one of the most common varieties of fungus found on artificial grass, so it should not be too surprising for you to find it on your turf if you do not properly and regularly clean it.
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How To Get Rid Of Ground Moles
Mounds of dirt and tunneling are a sure indication of ground moles. When trying to get rid of them, the consensus among many gardeners is that trapping works best. This is because they are too inaccessible and less drastic measures are likely to fail.
However, before choosing your trap, it is important to consider:
- If the trap is efficient enough to catch moles.
- If the trap is safe to use. Many traps on the market today pose danger with their sharp spears, and some also are designed as strong chokers. When some of these traps are raised above ground, they could potentially harm pets and children.
- Can you afford your choice of trap especially if you need several of them?
- Will the trap be used on another occasion?
On the market, you are likely to come across three major types of traps including:
- Victor Out OSight Mole Trap: worth 11.34 dollars, this is one of the most powerful and largely available traps. However, it can be tricky to set.
- Spear-shaped Mole Trap : worth 16.50 dollars, as its name, it has spears and may not be the best choice for a home with pets and children. It is very common and can be found in almost every hardware.
- NoMol Mole Trap: worth 20.95 dollars, of the three types of traps, this one is the safest but is hardly available. It sits below the surface of the ground and gets directly into the tunnel of the moles making it highly effective.
Mowing The Black Mold
You can significantly lower the impact of black mold by mowing your lawn. A lawnmower can significantly help to lower the impact on black mold on your grass. In summer you can set your mower to four inches while in fall and spring set it to about two and a half inches tall.
All the areas affected by black mold will clear after mowing and you should remove all the clippings. The black mold will not return so you should not stress about looking for chemicals to treat the condition that is otherwise natural and harmless. Just avoid using the black mold again since you can use the lawn clippings as mulch.
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Use A Natural Fungicide To Kill Fungus In Grass
You can also use natural fungicide instead of a commercial product. Natural treatments include:
- Baking soda and water
- Neem oil
- Compost tea
Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and 5 litres of water. Spray the solution on your lawn every three days until the fungus dies.
Neem oil is also an effective fungicide. Mix four tablespoons of neem oil with 5 litres of water. Spray every few days until the problem is gone.
To use compost tea, use four cups of tea per gallon of water. Compost tea is made from tap water combined with a few cups of organic compost.
Fusarium & Snow Mould
Evident in cool wet conditions from late autumn to spring.
Fusarium or fusarium patch is the more common of the two lawn problems whilst snow mould is exactly the same disease that occurs after prolonged snow cover. Fusarium is primarily a disease of fine or old turf generally occurring in the late autumn during prolonged damp weather and also in winter usually during a mild spell. It can be damaging because it kills the grass plants though you may end up with small infestations and not notice it.
If you do notice it you will see small tennis ball size straw coloured spots. These get bigger in the right conditions. Whilst the disease is growing the perimeter has a slimy coating of whitish fungal mycelium. This can make the patches irregular in shape looking like fluffy clouds.
Constant moisture or turf with a heavy thatch layer, compaction, poor drainage, clay soil or shade are more prone to attack. This means late and heavy applications of nitrogen fertiliser can make the grass plant more susceptible to the disease.
Prolonged compacted snow cover will often cause an outbreak. You can reduce the chance of snow mould damage by NOT throwing snow on the lawn from paths and driveways and removing snowmen and snowwomen once theyre finished with.
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Using Sulfur As A Fungicide
Sulfur is a natural option for controlling powdery mildew and improving plant health. Sulfur is also beneficial for dealing with pests. Studies show that the combination of sulfur and fungus likely interferes with the cellular respiration of the fungus.
Sulfur fungicide is available as a liquid, powder, or dust and is easily combined with water to create a safe solution for grass. Follow the product label instructions to mix and wear protective equipment to protect your skin and face when using.
Inadequate Drainage When Installed Over Tiles Or Concrete
If you havent installed your turf appropriately over your hard surface, i.e. concrete or tile floor, it is possible that the lack of proper drainage is contributing to the rise of mold.
The interrupted drainage would prevent water from being removed appropriately, thus leading it to pool up on the surface of the tiles and remain there for long periods of time.
This pooled-up water would then encourage the growth of mold over your turf.
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Preventing Mold From Returning
Why Does My Grass Have Mold On It
As the snow melts for the last time this spring, you may notice unusual brown rings and tangled patches on the lawn. Here’s a calling card from one of the most annoying lawn diseases – snow mold. Snow mold on lawns is a problem that seems completely illogical. Is it too cold under the snow for mold to grow?
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Moisture Between Turf Fibers
Assuming that you water and clean your turf regularly, it is possible that maybe youve watered your turf too much and that has resulted in the accumulation of excess water between turf fibers.
While it is definitely recommended that you should clean your turf regularly, an excess of water, beyond the natural drainage limitations of the turf, will result in the accumulation of water that will eventually result in the encouragement of mold growth.
How To Get That Mold Out Of Your Clothes
How to remove mold from clothing Method 1 of 3: Remove mold from fabric. Scrub the mold with a toothbrush. Method 2 of 3: Remove mold with bleach. Switch on the washing machine when it is hot. If you find mold on clothing or other fabrics, always wash them in warm water. Method 3 of 3: Remove mold with Borax. Start loading warm clothes.
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How Do I Treat Snow Mold
Snow mold can be an unsightly nuisance, especially if it keeps recurring. The best treatment is prevention. Preventive measures require that you proactively do the activities that will keep the snow mold on grass at bay. It is good to understand the conditions that cause the development of snow mold so that you can prevent its occurrence. Unfortunately, there are not any fungicide treatments that will kill snow mold in the spring. However, if you have recurring issues of snow mold on grass in the spring, consider using a preventative lawn fungicide in the fall. Its best to apply the preventative fungicide after your last mowing and before the occurrence of the first heavy snowfall. If you prefer to use natural products on your grass, try kelp and humic acid. Kelp and humic acid are bio-stimulants that contain micronutrients and provide a healthy boost to your lawn.
If you find that you have snow mold, we suggest that you rake the areas that are impacted to loosen up the grass allowing it to dry out and provide new grass the room it needs to grow. Also, we suggest that you reseed the damaged areas of your grass. Never forget call Summit Turf Services for any questions or concerns regarding lawn care. We are here to help keep your lawn in the best shape, year-round!
Mole Eradication: How Should You Kill Them
Before getting down into mole elimination, understand that these can be fickle creatures that tend to frequently abandon their tunnels. This means you need to have a little bit of patience as identifying the tunnel they are in can be a challenge. The first step to eradicating moles is detecting the most active tunnel. Look for straight runway and stomp in with an object or your foot. If there are moles in the mound, they should repair the tunnel within a day. Among the multiple ways, there are of ridding your lawn of moles, one sure way of eradicating them is by using a mole-specific trap.
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How Do I Remove Snow Mold From My Lawn
Heres the bad news: Once you see the snow mold, the damage is already done. Applying fungicidethat is, special chemicals that kill moldwont help at that point. The most you can do is gently rake the area to loosen up any matted snow mold grass and allow the soil to dry more quickly.
Once the weather warms up and the soil dries, youll have a better idea of how much grass has been affected. Remember that gray snow mold doesnt kill the roots, so your grass may bounce back from it. For any areas affected by pink snow mold, rake away dead grass and re-seed bare patches.
Inadequate Pet Waste Cleanup
Dogs have a tendency to leave their mess on your turf. And it is possible that due to the lack of proper cleaning the waste matter encourages mold to accumulate and grow.
If your pets frequently urinate or leave feces on your artificial turf it can go uncleaned for hours if youre not paying attention.
In this case you need to improve the cleaning up of their waste to prevent further mold growth.
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Does Artificial Grass Get Mold Or Mildew
Switching from natural grass to an artificial grass lawn conserves water, reduces the need for chemical yard care products, saves you time on yard maintenance, and allows you to enjoy a lush, green lawn every month of the year. In Southern California, where we often experience drought, conserving water is particularly important and having a natural lawn that is green all year is becoming increasingly rare. These are just two of the reasons that homeowners are opting for synthetic turf and enjoying the many perks that come along with it.
Of course, many folks still remember the fake grass of 20 or 30 years ago and are not aware of the huge advancements in manufactured grass technology over the years. This means that folks considering replacing their natural grass with the synthetic sort usually have lots of questions. One question we sometimes get is, Does artificial grass get mold or mildew?
While mold and mildew are issues that most Southern California homeowners will never have to deal with, some folks in coastal communities or areas that receive more rain and have lots of shade do have issues with mildew in basements or mold growing on their eaves, decks, walkways, natural grass lawns or driveways. Mold can even be an issue in shady areas or areas with poor drainage in some of the driest parts of California. So, it makes sense that even Southern Californians would have questions about the potential for synthetic grass mold.
What Causes Brown Patches On My Turf Grass
The brown spot is promoted by high relative humidity during the day and a low temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Excessive soil moisture, persistent leaf moisture and/or high nitrogen levels increase disease severity. The leaf blades or sheath withered and formed circular patches inches to feet in diameter.
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What Is Black Mold On Grass
What Is Black Mold On Grass?
What causes black fungus on grass? Black fungus on grass can be caused by several different types of fungus: sooty mold growing on the honeydew of aphids, slime mold, brown patch disease and gray leaf spot. Slime mold has a black, powdery appearance that runs up the stem from the base.
Is mold on grass harmful? Slime molds that frequently sporulate on turf do not harm the grass and no control measures are necessary . The most common slime mold that is brought to our attention by alarmed homeowners is Fuligo septica, dog vomit slime mold .
How do I get rid of mold in my lawn? Vinegar will almost always kill algae and will kill mold about 90% of the time. Dip the scrub brush in the vinegar and begin scrubbing the moldy sections of the lawn. For small areas, a vinegar spray bottle can be used, but if a large area of the yard is covered in mold, youll need a bucket.
How Often To Clean Your Patio Or Outdoor Surface
The frequency of cleaning will depend on how much mold, mildew, or moss there is and how often it comes back. Applications may need to be repeated for especially moldy areas. Other times, this could be done once a year for a spring cleaning every season. Remember, it will be worth the effort when guests come over and there will be no embarrassment from the unsightly mold.
The Spruce / Sydney Brown
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