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Disease is usually caused by excessive moisture lingering on the turf for a prolonged period of time. Although we cannot exercise control over Mother Nature, there are cultural practices that will minimize the possibility of fungus becoming a problem on your lawn.
Proper cutting is one of the most important cultural habits that will help to prevent the onset of a fungus problem. Cut your lawn at two and one half to three inches so that it will remain healthy and green by developing and maintaining a strong root system.
Watering the turf infrequently for longer periods will also prevent fungus problems. As a general rule of thumb, water once weekly (twice in the summer) until the ground has been thoroughly soaked (usually about one and a half hours in each area) and never water at night. Remember, we want the water to penetrate the soil but we don't want it to linger on the turf plant.
Aeration is highly recommended on a yearly basis to allow the water to penetrate the thatch layer and enter the soil structure where it belongs.
Another important consideration is the fertilizer that is applied to your lawn. Too much is worse than not enough. The amount of fertilizer applied by us is the recommended amount that your turf should receive.
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