If you’re not familiar with it, snow mold is a type of fungus that grows in the cold, damp environment of melting snow. It can cause damage to your lawn grass, and in some cases, it can even be hazardous to your health [1].
So how do you get rid of snow mold? There are a few natural ways to do it, but it’s important to be vigilant and take steps to prevent it from forming in the first place.
In this article, we’ll give you a few tips on how to treat this fungal lawn disease and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
Identification
Snow mold typically appears as pink, gray, or white patches and can cause the grass to die if it’s left untreated.
If you see any of the following signs in your yard, you likely have snow mould and should take action to get rid of it.
- Circles of straw-colored patches in grass that range in different sizes.
- As the ground dries up, the patches on the grass take on a matted appearance and turn black, orange, or brown.
You’ll find snow mould in two types: gray and pink.
Gray snow mold appears as circular spots that look like a cotton-like growth on the ground [2]. Pink snow appears as circular dead spots/patches that can be pink, tan, or white. These patches also have a white center.
How to Get Rid of Snow Mold Naturally
1. Dethatch Your Lawn Regularly
If you want to prevent snow mold, you should make a point to dethatch your lawn regularly. Dethatching is the process of removing the thatch—the layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic matter—that builds up on your lawn over time.
A build-up of thatch can create the perfect environment for snow mold to grow, so it’s important to keep things in check. You can rent a power rake or hire a lawn care professional to do it for you.
Doing this will not only help keep snow mold under control, but it will also improve the overall health of your lawn.
2. Avoid Fertilizing in Late Fall
Fertilizing in late fall is a big no-no if you’re trying to avoid snow mold.
That’s because excess nitrogen in the soil can actually encourage snow mold growth. So even if you think you’re doing your lawn a favor by giving it a little extra TLC before winter, you might be doing more harm than good.
To be safe, just wait until spring to fertilize your lawn again. Your grass will thank you for it come springtime.
3. Don’t Let Leaves Pile Up
You might be tempted to just let the leaves fall where they may and deal with them in the spring, but that’s actually a bad idea. If you let leaves pile up, they can actually create the perfect environment for snow mold to grow.
So what can you do? Well, you can rake them up or use a leaf blower to get rid of them—just make sure you dispose of them properly.
You can also shred them for mulch with a lawn mower or chop them up with a string trimmer. Either way, getting rid of the leaves will help prevent snow mold from taking over your yard.
4. Don’t Let Snow Pile Up
If you want to avoid snow mold, one of the best things you can do is to clear the snow away from your home as soon as possible. I know it’s cold and no one wants to go out in the snow, but if you let it pile up, it might just turn into a big moldy mess.
So, as soon as the snow stops falling, get out there and shovel it away from your foundation and any other areas where it might start to pile up.
5. Earthworm Castings
If you have earthworms in your garden, you’re in luck. Earthworm castings are an excellent way to reduce most lawn diseases, and they’re also great for your plants.
To use earthworm castings, simply sprinkle them on the affected area and let nature take its course. The castings will help to break down the snow mold and improve the quality of your soil.
If you don’t have earthworms in your garden, you can still use their castings. You can purchase them online or at a gardening store.
6. Compost Tea
Compost tea is a great home remedy to help reduce white fungus on grass and some other lawn diseases. It’s also pretty easy to make. All you need is some compost, water, and a little bit of time.
To make compost tea, simply add a few scoops of compost to a container of water and let it steep for 24 hours. After that, just apply the tea to the affected areas.
7. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural disinfectant and will kill the mold spores.
To use it, mix one cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of water. Use this solution to treat winter grass mold.
8. Baking Soda
Another remedy is baking soda. Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of liquid soap with a gallon of warm water
Next, use it to spray affected lawn patches. This DIY solution will kill the mold.
9. Captain Jack’s Lawnweed Brew
This product is a spray that works to control lawn weeds while also suppressing several plant diseases. It works as a treatment for snow mold.
Purchase it and use it according to the instructions that come with your order.
10. Sil-Matrix LC
This organic fungicide helps to prevent snow mold from taking hold. It creates a protective barrier on the turf. Sil-Matrix LC is also effective against powdery mildew and rust. Plus, you can use it on orchids and other plants.
11. ZeroTol HC
This product is made with hydrogen peroxide and another formula that’s been shown to be effective against this cold-weather fungus.
To use ZeroTol HC as a snow mold fungicide, simply mix it with water according to the instructions and apply it to the affected areas. You can use it as a surface treatment or foliar treatment.
Takeaway
If you suspect you have snow mold, you must take action quickly. You can try some of the natural remedies mentioned above, but it’s always best to consult with a professional before using any kind of treatment.
By taking these simple steps, you can keep your lawn healthy and free of snow mold.
Add comment