Lawn Disease and Solutions

Written by Linda Paquette


Every lawn, whether new or established, is susceptible to a variety of lawn diseases. Most lawn disease starts with a fungus. Fungi are an oddity because they don’t set seeds; instead, they propagate by distributing spores in their surrounding area. Some ofrepparttar spores are picked up by wind or animals and distributed in new locations.

One ofrepparttar 139601 biggest problems in controlling lawn diseases is diagnosis. Byrepparttar 139602 time signs of infection are evident,repparttar 139603 fungus that causes it is often difficult to control. Although there are dozens of types of lawn disease, most can be prevented through regular lawn care. Most fungus spores lie dormant until conditions are right for them to grow and infect your lawn. Generally, fungus spores need warm temperatures, a moist environment, a source of nutrition and a susceptible host. Although you can’t controlrepparttar 139604 weather, you can deprive them ofrepparttar 139605 nutrients they need as well as a susceptible host.

Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to deprive fungus ofrepparttar 139606 damp environment it needs. In addition to helpingrepparttar 139607 prevention of lawn disease, deep and infrequent watering encourages your turf to sink deeper roots. Water only whenrepparttar 139608 surface soil is dry to your touch and then water to a depth of two to three inches. You can gauge how much water your lawn is getting by “planting” a small container (such as a tuna or cat food can) in a corner of your yard. In addition, schedule irrigation inrepparttar 139609 morning to give excess water a chance to evaporate.

Lawn Moles and proper Lawn Care

Written by Linda Paquette


Are your making mountains out of your molehills? Although lawn moles are underground creatures,repparttar benefits they add to your garden are clearly visible and far outweighrepparttar 139600 disadvantages.

Ofrepparttar 139601 six species of mole found in North America,repparttar 139602 Eastern mole (or gray mole) isrepparttar 139603 most common. Moles are aboutrepparttar 139604 size of chipmunks and weigh from three to six ounces. A tiny creature, its total length is just six to eight inches.

Many gardeners and groundskeepers are underrepparttar 139605 mistaken impression that lawn moles eatrepparttar 139606 roots of their plants and turf grasses. However, moles are insectivores. Their primary diet is earthworms and grubs and a single mole can eat more than 140 grubs and cutworms daily. They also feast on destructive garden pests like snails, beetles, and millipedes. In fact, at just over a quarter-pound, a mole can consume 45 to 50 pounds of worms and insects each year.

The greatest harm that mole tunneling does to turf grass is by separating soil from roots. Still,repparttar 139607 mole’s digging actually improves soil quality by turning and aeratingrepparttar 139608 soil and mixing accumulated nutrients throughoutrepparttar 139609 excavation.

Moles don’t continually dig each time they forage for food. Once a tunnel system is established, it is infrequently extended. In fact,repparttar 139610 only signs of mole activity you might see are those whenrepparttar 139611 mole must repair its construction. When disturbed, moles may temporarily vacaterepparttar 139612 area, but generally return within a week or two. In addition, when a tunnel is abandoned, a new mole inhabitant will “recolonize” usingrepparttar 139613 handiwork of its predecessor.

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