No matter how careful you are and what precautions you have taken to prepare your lawn for the colder months, snow mold diseases are always a threat to any type of grass that is exposed to winter precipitation. Your lawn may be infected by one of two kinds of mold, “grey” or “pink.’ The treatment for either type will depend on the extent of the disease.
A lawn that has been affected by snow mold will be matted and straw colored. If it is a mild case careful raking may be sufficient to loosen the tangled grass and let new growth come through. More severe cases may require a chemical solution.
As with any disease, prevention is key. Landscape maintenance programs include aerating and proper fertilization. Mower blades will be lowered as the summer goes on until the grass will be leveled to a 2 inch height, short enough to keep it from falling over and matting.
Get rid of any leftover piles of snow standing in your yard. Rainy overcast days can reactivate a mold disease. Pay extra attention to shaded areas. Make sure your lawn is clean of the fall leaves that can clump together and provide the moisture that mold diseases feed on.
There are other things that can be done to lessen the odds for future attacks of snow mold. Your landscape maintenance manager can make a plan that will incorporate the preventive methods mentioned here plus any additional courses of action that may help your lawn fight off infection and become green and healthy asap.
Once your lawn dries out the fungus that caused the blight can be treated. Remember, snow mold looks worse than it is. Call Co-Cal Landscape @ 303-578-4788 in Denver at your earliest convenience and begin a preventive program of lawn care.