Protect your lawn from brown patch, dollar spot, and other fungal diseases with expert diagnosis and treatment.
Call for FREE DiagnosisLawn fungal diseases are among the most frustrating problems homeowners face. These diseases appear suddenly, spread quickly, and can transform a beautiful lawn into a patchwork of brown, dying grass in just days.
Maryland's humid summer climate creates perfect conditions for fungal diseasesâheat, humidity, and dew provide everything fungal pathogens need to thrive.
At Greenlawn Inc, we've diagnosed and treated lawn diseases since 1986. Success requires accurate identification, proper fungicide selection, correct timing, and cultural practice modifications that reduce disease pressure.
Several fungal diseases regularly affect lawns throughout Ellicott City and Columbia:
The most common and destructive disease in Howard County. Creates circular brown patches from inches to several feet in diameter. Thrives in hot, humid weather (80-90°F) with nighttime temps above 70°Fâtypical Maryland summer conditions June through September.
Creates small, silver dollar-sized tan spots that may merge into larger patches. Grass blades develop distinctive hourglass-shaped lesions. Most active during warm days and cool nights with heavy dewâcommon in late spring and early fall.
Produces orange, yellow, or reddish-brown pustules that rub off on shoes and mowers. Most common in late summer and fall during slow grass growth periods. While rarely fatal, rust weakens grass and creates unsightly discoloration.
The most destructive turf diseaseâcapable of killing large lawn areas within 24 hours. Affected areas appear water-soaked and dark, then collapse into greasy, slimy matted grass. Requires immediate treatment to prevent severe damage.
Effective disease control requires a systematic approach combining diagnosis, treatment, and prevention:
Different diseases require different fungicides. We examine affected areas, identify the specific disease based on symptoms and timing, and select the most effective fungicide. Misdiagnosis is the primary reason DIY treatments fail.
Our MDA licensing allows professional fungicides that are more effective and longer-lasting. We apply at proper rates with thorough coverage of affected areas plus buffer zones to prevent spread.
Fungicides treat symptoms but don't address underlying conditions. We provide specific recommendations: watering schedule adjustments, mowing height corrections, fertility modifications, and aeration needs to reduce future disease pressure.
We monitor treated areas to ensure disease is controlled. Some aggressive diseases require multiple applications. We schedule follow-ups only when necessary, avoiding overuse while ensuring full recovery.
Accurate Diagnosis: Disease identification requires training and experience. We've seen thousands of cases in Howard County and can distinguish between similar-looking problems requiring different treatments.
Professional-Grade Products: Our MDA licensing allows access to fungicides with broader disease spectrums, longer residual activity, and better systemic movement than consumer products.
Proper Application Technique: Fungicide application requires thorough coverage, proper timing, and immediate watering-in for many products. Our commercial equipment ensures even coverage at proper rates.
Prevention is always preferable to treatment. These cultural practices significantly reduce disease pressure:
Water deeply but infrequently (1-1.5 inches weekly). Water early morning (4-8 AM) so grass dries quicklyânever at night. Extended leaf wetness promotes disease development.
Prune low tree branches, thin dense shrubs, and consider core aeration. Poor air movement keeps humidity high around grass, promoting disease. Properties with mature trees often need this most.
Maintain cool-season grass at 2.5-3.5 inches. During disease-prone summer months, raise to upper range. Keep mower blades sharpâdull blades tear grass creating entry points for disease.
Both excessive nitrogen and deficiency increase disease risk. Our balanced programs maintain moderate, steady growth that resists disease. Potassium in particular improves resistance.
Combine fungus control with proper lawn care for lasting results: