Avoid Leaf Spot In Your Lawn As The Weather Cools

Leaf spot is a common problem in many lawns as summer turns to fall. One of the primary causes is cooler overnight temperatures and water. Many gardeners lead busy lives and the only time they can really water their lawns is in the evening. However, as the nights become cooler, that wet grass can lead to a fungal disease commonly known as Leaf Spot. It’s can be identified by the black spots that appear on each blade of grass.

The cure is often fairly easy – stop watering in the evening and only water in the morning. Too busy? Not on your life. First, we seem to have this fascination with watering our lawns every day, or every second day. Your lawn needs a good soaking roughly once a week. I am sure you can find at least one morning each week to give your lawn a good soaking.

Generally speaking, Leaf Spot will self cure if you modify that watering regime. Occasionally, the problem will manifest and start to affect the crown of the plant. If this happens, that particular plant will eventually die back.  You can apply a fungicide when you first notice the problem, but they are not always effective and may do more damage than the Leaf Spot fungus. If you notice that Leaf Spot fungus is beginning to effect the crown then your first step to controlling the problem is to stop all watering for 10-14 days at least.

Leaf Spot will not survive in warm dry conditions and will normally die off after ten days. The best approach is to stop watering for three weeks – this is beyond the 10-14 days, but if it is still warm and sunny with little rain around then it will ensure the fungus is totally eliminated.

Those areas that have had the crown affected will need overseeding. A grass seeding tool will penetrate below the thatch allowing the seed to germinate in the soil rather that in the thatch. Once you have sown your seed, water it in well and keep it moist until you see the new green shoot appearing.

If you are in an area where the days are still warm but the evenings beginning to cool noticeably, change your watering routine and only water in the mornings. Best practices in lawn watering suggests it should always be watered in the mornings and never in the late afternoons. You should never water after sundown – it’s an open invitation to lawn problems.