Healthy lawns in the fall can be challenging due to seasonal diseases and pests. But only if you don't know how to deal with them!
During the fall months, keeping your lawn in good condition is often a difficult task. This is due to common lawn diseases and pest infestations. To avoid damage, it is important that you identify and treat it as quickly as possible. Below, we'll look at some of the most common fall lawn diseases and pests and give you tips on how to combat them!
How to achieve a healthy lawn in autumn – combat diseases and pests
During the hot summer months, it's completely normal for your lawn to look a little dull. But with the onset of autumn it should become nice and green again. A healthy fall lawn has a uniform color, no bare spots, and no strangely colored areas. However, if you notice these, it is very likely that your lawn has fallen victim to one of the common fall diseases - most of which are caused by fungi.
Eliminate fungus in the lawn with home remedies
If the summer was warm and rainy, your lawn will be very susceptible to fungal attack in the fall. Fungi love moist, warm environments and spread quickly when they are present. The result is often a gray, unsightly lawn that is covered in fungal growth. However, fungal diseases are not always so easy to recognize. Bare spots and pale yellow, irregularly shaped or circular spots on your lawn are telltale signs of a fungal infestation.
To combat fungus in the lawn, there are natural methods with home remedies that you can use. And that's them!
- baking soda and water: Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with 5 liters of water. Spray the solution on your lawn every three days until the fungus dies.
- Neem oil: Mix four tablespoons of neem oil with 5 liters of water. Spray every few days until the problem goes away.
In addition to moist and warm conditions, fungal diseases on lawns also occur due to poor or improper garden care. In the remainder of this article we will give you further tips on how to achieve a healthy lawn in autumn.
Also read:Lawn fungal infestation: causes, symptoms, home remedies to combat it and measures to prevent it!
Get rid of lawn pests with nematodes
Brown spots on the lawn can also be caused by pests. Such lawn pests are the larvae of the meadow fly (Tipula larvae). They feed on the roots of grass until they rot. SC nematodes are used to combat these pests. They penetrate the Tipula larvae from the outside and infect them with a special bacterium that causes them to die within a few days. However, it is important to use this method no later than the end of September, when the soil temperature is above 12 degrees and watering is good.
This is how you should proceed:
- Purchase SC nematodes from a garden center.
- Pour the contents of the pack into a bucket with five liters of standing tap water and mix well.
- Distribute the water into watering cans and water the affected lawns. Use the method only in the evening or during the day in very cloudy weather, as nematodes do not tolerate sunlight.
Notice: Keep the soil moist over the next few weeks because nematodes need water to move. Always stir water containing nematodes well before watering.
SC nematodes can kill up to 90% of the meadow fly larvae present.
Healthy lawn in autumn – further care measures
Take a look at these care tips your lawn needs before winter sets in:
Remove the foliage: A carpet of colorful fall leaves may look good and fun, but it's not good for your lawn. They block light and trap moisture, which can be deadly to the grass underneath. So blow or rake away the leaves as often as possible. If you don't, the grass mat underneath will be dead by spring.
Water at least until the end of October:While it's true that there is more rain, more dew, and less evaporation this time of year, that may not be enough to keep your grass roots well-hydrated and healthy through the winter.
Adding fertilizer: Just as grass roots need water to survive the winter, they also benefit from a dose of plant sugars that protect the roots from freezing and give the whole plant the energy to recover in spring. These sugars are made from chlorophyll, which grass produces in abundance when there is enough nitrogen. That's why it's important that you fertilize your lawn in the fall with a 24-0-10 slow-release fertilizer in granular form. The numbers indicate the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content by weight.
Also read:Fertilizing the lawn in autumn: Why is it essential and which home remedies are suitable for it?
Keep mowing, but at the right height: If you're wondering how long you should mow the lawn, the answer is that you shouldn't put the mower away until the first hard frost. Mow regularly and keep the grass between 6 – 7.5 cm high. Why?
- If you allow the grass to grow too long, it will become susceptible to fungal attack.
- If you cut it too short, you will damage its root system and its ability to withstand winter cold and drought.
Propagation of seeds: A thick lawn is also good protection against weeds. That's why it's important to reseed the lawn in October. Not only will this fill in bare spots, but it will also allow you to introduce the newest varieties of drought-resistant grasses. Autumn is also the best time to sow lawns because the ground is still warm, moisture is plentiful, the nights are cool and the sun is not as hot during the day.
Also read:Scarifying and reseeding the lawn in autumn: with these tips you can do it right!
