Winter often leaves behind one or two diseases in plants, especially if they were not properly prepared and protected beforehand. The lawn in particular can be affected during the cold season and needs additional care or renewal at the start of the new season. If you have noticed light-colored spots on your lawn, this may be what is known as snow mold. We explain exactly what it is, how it occurs and how you can combat and prevent snow mold in your lawn.
What is this lawn mold?
Snow mold is an unpleasant fungal disease caused by the fungusMicrodochium nivale(“Snow mold” is the German name). Since cold, damp weather is particularly conducive to its development, the disease usually occurs between October and March. Especially during this period it is extremely humid due to frequent rains or melting snow and in combination with the natural autumn and winter cold it creates a perfectEnvironment for the mushrooms. Temperatures between zero and ten degrees are ideal for the fungus.
How do you recognize snow mold in your lawn?
Before this mold is perceived as a white fungus in the lawn, it appears as brown-gray spots that have a round shape. As they continue to grow and spread evenly over time, they change color to gray to whitish, with the edges also appearing like rings. Since there are several spots in a relatively small area, sooner or later they merge into one another. The blades of grass die throughout the process, but fortunately only above ground. On the gray-white discolorationa yellowish-brown one follows.
How should you treat snow mold in your lawn?
The initial shock is followed by a few reassuring words: It is not a very aggressive fungus that will be difficult to get rid of. In fact, you don't necessarily have to do anything. Especially if you prefer to avoid chemical remedies for snow mold in the lawn or in your garden in general, you do not need to make an exception for these types of fungal diseases in the lawn (the effective control products are not permitted for home use anyway).
If you notice an infestation of snow mold in your lawn right from the start, you canhome remediestry to combat it. To do this, make an infusion of onions or garlic (boil a chopped bulb in a liter of water for 20 minutes, then dilute with water in a ratio of 1:5) which you spray on the affected areas once a week.
As soon as the weather gets warmer in spring, the fungus will no longer be able to spread and will die on its own. Although the unsightly spots remain, we have good news here too: As we already mentioned, the roots are not affected by the disease. Fresh and healthy blades of grass will soon grow back and the spots will disappear - usually completely without you having to reseed. However, if the areas are particularly bare, you can also help with a few fresh seeds.
Support and accelerate the process
If the lawn is moldy, do it a big favor by helping it heal. To this end, care for and strengthen it with the right measures. This includes first combing through the diseased areas to remove the dead stalks. This works quite well with a hand scarifier. It is then worth scarifying the entire lawn. In this way, you supply the turf with oxygen, among other things, as it is ventilated. Afterwards, it is also worth working some sand or alternatively humus into the affected areas.
Then fertilize the lawn. This is a must in the spring anyway, but after a fungal infestation, make sure that the fertilizer contains a good amount of potassium, but contains less nitrogen than usual. This is so important because it stimulates the growth of fungi and you want to avoid that.
ToSpring lawn careThis often also includes liming if the quality of the soil requires it. However, if there is snow mold on the lawn, this step should be avoided, as this again encourages fungal growth.
How you can avoid mold infestation in the future
The usual care measures that you should give the lawn all year round should also be sufficient to prevent snow mold in the lawn. This also includes proper preparation for winter.
In spring:
- Aerate the lawn and loosen it with sand
- Mow regularly, but do not cut too short (leave at least 4 cm high)
- Scarify to remove thatch and aerate the soil
In summer:
- mow regularly
- water if necessary
In autumn:
- Scarify against thatch and moss
- Remove fallen leaves from the lawn, otherwise moisture will build up underneath
- Avoid nitrogen-rich lawn fertilizer
The above-mentioned infusion of onions and garlic can also be sprayed onto the lawn once a week as a preventive measure.
