Lawn care specialists can help when a yard becomes infected with a fungus known as rust. It’s easy to know when this happens because the grass takes on a rusty look, with orange or reddish dust wafting around when someone walks through it. A service such as Spokane Pro Care can get rid of the fungus and provide instructions on how to prevent rust disease from developing again. Prevention mainly involves strengthening the grass.
Treating Rust Disease
Applying Fungicide
The lawn care service will likely apply fungicide that targets rust disease. The products contain copper or sulfur. Technicians arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon once each week and spray the substance onto the affected area. They avoid spraying when the sun beats down on the grass to avoid quick evaporation of the fungicide.
Raking
The lawn service technicians also may rake up dead leaves and grass before spraying. That eliminates organic matter that may have accumulated the fungus.
Mowing
Until the problem is resolved, you’ll be advised to use a mower that bags the clippings instead of leaving them in the grass. You also should clean the blades after cutting the grass. Apply some soapy water, such as water with dish soap, and then hose off the blades.
Preventing Recurrence
Watering
You’ll want to water the grass using a method that allows for thorough drenching of the roots. This usually means applying a substantial amount of water early in the morning before the sun gets high in the sky. A company such as Spokane Pro Care can install an automatic sprinkler system that does this task in the most effective way.
Fertilizing
Using a spreader, lawn technicians can apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer to the grass once or twice a season. At the same time, they can add grass seed species that are resilient against rust disease. Both these strategies strengthen your lawn, and also make it more lush and beautiful.
Mowing
You should still continue to mow the grass regularly, but have a technician set the mower blades high enough so the grass is always at least 3 inches tall. The extra greenery provides additional photosynthesized nutrients to the roots, making the entire grass plant healthier.
