Here in New Albany, MS, where hot and humid weather is a common occurrence, lawn and plant diseases tend to thrive.
Our subtropical summers can create a breeding ground for fungus, and it doesn’t take long for it to start running rampant within your lawn or landscape (or both!).
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the Mississippi lawn disease and plant disease concerns that need to be on your radar. We’ll also answer some of the most common questions that we are frequently asked.
At the end of the day, we want to see you have maximum success with both your lawn and your landscape! You deserve a property that you’re proud to show off, and diseases shouldn’t stand in the way of that.
Some of the worst plant diseases in North Mississippi include Root Rot, Bacterial Leaf Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Shot Hole Fungus. Let’s briefly talk about each of these and what you should know.
Root Rot is a fungal infection in plants, characterized by decay.
You might not see where the damage originates – in the roots – but you may notice yellowing or browning leaves, or plants that fail to thrive, and wonder what’s going on. This often arises from too much water or waterlogged soil.
Several different fungi can cause Root Rot. Pythium and Phytophthora are ubiquitous and damaging.
Bacterial Leaf Spot is characterized by red and purple spots on the leaves. Properly watering your plants is important to avoiding this spotty issue.
Particularly, it’s crucial to avoid overhead watering; opt for drip irrigation instead. This disease can also impact plants that have been planted outside of the proper climate or hardiness zone.
When Powdery Mildew strikes, you’ll first see isolated patches of whitish, powdery growth on the surfaces of your plant’s leaves.
Over time, if the conditions persist, this plant disease can become more severe and may cover the entire leaf or plant. This disease tends to show up in shaded areas and when higher amounts of moisture are present.
Moderate air temperatures and high humidity, particularly in the absence of good air circulation, create favorable conditions.
This plant disease, also called Coryneum Blight, is a serious fungus that creates BB-sized holes in plant leaves.
This one is often mistaken for insect damage because the holes look like something burrowed through the leaf, as if the leaf has been shot. It tends to show up in Cherries and Laurels.
Like landscape plant diseases, turf diseases can also be really problematic. Some of the most common sod diseases that we see here in North Mississippi include Rust, Dollar Spot, Brown Patch, and Leaf Spot.
Let’s talk about each of these and what you can expect.
Lawn Rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia, is a largely cosmetic disease that shows up as a yellow or orange powdery substance on the lawn.
It tends to thrive in our humid weather and can be exacerbated by drought or mowing stress. Although it does have the potential to weaken the grass, this disease doesn’t typically cause long-term damage like others can.
Dollar Spot is another common sod disease in New Albany, MS.
It shows up as small yellow or beige circular patches that resemble the size and shape of silver dollars (hence its name). While these circles start small, they can quickly start to grow together as the disease spreads.
Dollar Spot usually comes along in late spring and can last through autumn, causing the most damage in June and July. It loves under-fertilized grass, as well as lawns impacted by drought and compaction.
Brown Patch lawn disease is another fungus characterized by its appearance. It shows up as large brown patches on the lawn.
This disease thrives in heat and humidity, particularly when nighttime temperatures consistently remain above 68 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime temperatures are at or above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bacterial Leaf Spot is another common lawn fungus that can cause trouble. It shows up as brown spots on the grass blades, which grow as they spread.
The “leaf spot phase” is not as damaging, though, as the “melting out phase,” which occurs as pathogens spread to the roots.
When the crowns and roots become diseased, you may start to see severe thinning of the lawn.
No, a lawn disease typically will not spread to your plant material. That’s because most lawn fungi are typically specific to the turfgrass species growing in your lawn.
But, it’s important to understand that the conditions that cause lawn fungi to grow (often, in our region, the climate…aka, heat and humidity), can also cause plant fungus to grow. While they might be different types of fungi, they might occur at the same time.
Similarly, certain poor cultural practices, such as overwatering, might also contribute to fungal problems in both the lawn and landscape, especially when coupled with heat and humidity.
Conversely, people also want to know whether tree and shrub diseases in North Mississippi can spread to their lawn.
Again, the plant diseases that are impacting your trees and shrubs are likely specific to that plant species. But the conditions that might have caused fungal spores to multiply can also cause problems for your lawn.
Of course, some fungal spore types can be blown from trees and shrubs, land in the lawn, and cause problems even though they didn’t originate there. It’s essential to adopt good cultural practices, such as proper watering, to prevent issues from being exacerbated.
Fungicides are a valuable tool for both common sod diseases and common plant diseases. There are different fungicides available for other diseases, so you’ll want to make sure you are working with an expert who can diagnose and treat what’s going on.
For your landscape, we do recommend investing in Plant Health Care Services as an add-on to your lawn care plan. Your landscape is a whole different beast that needs its own set of expert eyes on it.
Early control or prevention is key to avoiding prolonged damage. Lawn & Pest Solutions’ experienced technicians scout for not only insects and diseases, but also the cultural practices that people often overlook, which can mimic plant diseases or cause as much damage as any disease.
For instance, drought damage is commonly misdiagnosed by homeowners as a disease (and vice versa). Improper planting is also the cause of many plant health problems.
A Plant Health Care expert will be able to diagnose what’s going on properly. A good plant healthcare service should provide you with feedback at each service visit, so you know how your plants are doing and are aware of any potential issues.
The truth is, neither lawn nor plant diseases are 100 percent preventable. Sometimes, even healthy turf and landscapes succumb to diseases when the conditions are right. And here in North MS, where our climate is humid, fungus is always lurking.
That being said, when you take steps to promote a healthy lawn or landscape, you can help ward off some trouble. Plants and turf that are already healthy and thriving are going to fare significantly better than those that are struggling. If your lawn or landscape is already unhealthy, a fungal infection could cause serious damage.
That means when you invest in lawn care and plant health care, you’re taking steps to promote a healthy turf and landscape that will better withstand pressure.
You’re also investing in having an expert eye on your property. We always urge our clients to call us at the first sign of trouble. We can help diagnose what’s going on and implement a solution before the problem gets serious.
If you care about having a nice lawn, then you want a beautiful landscape, too. That’s why so many of our lawn care clients also choose to invest in Plant Health Care Services.
Sometimes, people overlook plants until there’s something wrong. However, ignoring plant healthcare is never a good idea. It can be more costly than paying to prevent issues. Once your trees and shrubs succumb to plant diseases or other stresses, the money, time, and stress it causes you can certainly add up.
Chances are, you’ve invested in your New Albany, Tupelo or Oxford, MS, landscape. Protecting that investment is important.
Not sure where to start? Contact Lawn & Pest Solutions. We can take care of these key assets in your landscape with complete plant health care services. The result will be plants that add to your property rather than detract from it.
Want to improve the health of your trees and shrubs and create a happier overall landscape in North Mississippi? Lawn & Pest Solutions can help. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we’ll customize a plan that gives you the most attractive landscape on the block.
Image Sources | Powdery Mildew, Shot Hole Fungus, Lawn Rust, Dollar Spot