How To Put An End To Snow Mold
Posted on: 13 February 2015
Yellow, matted grass in spring is indicative of snow mold, a nonlethal fungal disease that attacks when the lawn is asleep for the winter. If your lawn is prone to snow mold, proper fall care is your best defense against this unwanted winter guest.
Mow Low
Overly long grass that falls over on itself can create the perfect conditions for mold after it snows. Your goal is to get the lawn down to a 2-inch height by the last mowing of the season, thus leaving it too short to easily fall over or mat.
If you've been maintaining a 3 ½ or higher grass height through summer, don't cut it off all at once. Instead, gradually decrease the mower blade height by ½ inch weekly until you're at the 2-inch height by the last mow of the season.
Put Some Holes In It
Poor drainage and air circulation is another common cause for snow mold, since it needs moist conditions to survive. Aerating your lawn once yearly is usually enough to open up the soil so snow can drain quickly once it begins to melt. Minimizing standing water also helps prevent surface ice formation.
A core or plug aerator works best, because the holes it creates are loose and increase both drainage and air circulation. You can aerate at any time of the growing season, but it's usually done as an early summer or fall chore.
Off With the Thatch
Thatch is that thin layer of decaying organic matter that develops on top of the soil in your lawn. Generally, it's a good thing – it acts as a natural mulch, which protects grass roots. It becomes a problem when the layer gets too thick and holds in too much moisture, providing a food source for molds. If the thatch is over ½ inch thick, remove it with a dethatching rake.
How often you dethatch depends on your lawn. Some lawns never need dethatching, while others require it annually. Generally, if you have a lot of fall leaf matter that ends up on your lawn, you'll be dethatching more often.
Remove the Covers
The final temptation to snow mold spores is a moist blanket. The simplest one to remove is the blanket created by fall leaves. Rake thoroughly and rake often in the fall, with the goal of having as few leaves as possible on the ground when the first snow comes. Leaves trap moisture once it snows, creating a perfect spot for snow mold.
Snow itself is also an adequate cover for moss. If you have shaded patches that are melting slowly, rake over them a few times to spread out the snow and speed the melting process.
If snow mold does take hold, don't despair. Although it may not look that great at first, it usually fixes itself as the temperature warms. After a few mowings, the damaged grass blades will be gone, and your lawn will look good again. For more information, see http://www.headmanlawncare.com.
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