Description of Problem:

• Lawn develops a gray mold appears on blades. Leaves turn yellow.

    Cause of Problem:

1. This fungus attracts damp stressed lawns. Usually during damp nights and warm humid days.

2. Spread by spores.

3. This fungus is attracted to the lawn because of the rapid lush new growth of a high nitrogen feed lawn. The chemical fertilizer kills off all beneficial bacteria and attracts these harmful bacteria and fungus.

4. The root cause of all fungal diseases is dead soil.

5. Over fertilized soil, improperly cared for soil, will die and along with it goes the support system needed by plants (lawn) to grow healthy and disease free.

6. The very water you use has chlorine (usually) added to it to control bacteria in the water. It is this very anti-bacterial water that kills off all beneficials in the soil further adding to the damage caused by chemical usage.

     The Organic Solution:

1. Take better care of your soil!

2. Top dress with compost several times per year.

3. Top dress with rock dust several times per year.

4. Use gypsum

5. Aerate each time before top dressing is done.

6. Composted horse manure makes a good lawn top dressing.

7. Avoid using all chemical fertilizers, etc on the lawn.

8. garden filter

     A good lawn compost formula:

• mix together the following:

• 4 parts Horse manure

• 1 part Rabbit or llama manure

• 4 parts Compost

• 1 part Alfalfa meal

• 1 part Coffee grinds

• 1 part Rock Dust or Gypsum
  Blend together, screen if possible, ready to apply to lawn. spread evenly over lawn area. water in well or allow to be rained on.

• Save some to make compost tea with. 

• Use organic fertilizers as needed to insure proper lawn growth.
  see Bradfields Lawn Fertilizer

• use EZ-Gro unit to fertilize.

• avoid urea based products.

    A natural spray to use:

    Using Compost Tea to control fungus:

1. A good strong compost tea can be sprayed on the effected lawn to control most fungus related problems.

2. Allow the tea to sit for a few days before using.

3. Add some  Dr. Bronners soap, ( a few drops per gallon) to increase effectiveness as the soap becomes a wetting agent.

4. Adding Nitron A-35 and SuperSeaweed

     Control your watering.

• It is important to control the amount and times of watering to insure that you are not over or under watering.

• See lawn basics.
  

       For more information 

1. dead soil,

2. waterlogged soil,

3. compacted soil,

4. dog urine,

5. chemical burn,

6. algae moss,

7. Members, If you still are having a problem and need to talk with The Invisible Gardener then visit Ask Andy Forum or we can talk on my radio show!

8. Still need help? Try our ebook

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Last Update: 01/17/2013