Is Snow Mold a Threat to My Lawn?

Have you ever noticed a patchy disease on your lawn? Have you wondered what this disease could be and how it is affecting your lawn? We’ve got answers, people! Snow mold is a cold-weather fungus primarily affecting cool-season grasses. However, it is typically not a threat and rarely leads to serious damage on home lawns.

When Will I Be Able to Spot Snow Mold?

Snow mold symptoms and evidence of the disease will not be seen until March or April and we tend not to see this disease in January of February. Snow Mold occurs after extended snow cover.

Why Should I Watch Out for It?

Snow mold occurs when pathogens remain dormant between active seasons in the soil or in debris of previously diseased leaves. Under ideal conditions spores develop and are spread by wind or splashing rain.

What Are the Symptoms?

Pink Snow Mold:

• Small spots 1-3 inches in diameter to begin with
• Centers of pink snow mold become reddish-brown and then tan
• Patches expand to 12 inches and have a pink margin

Gray Snow Mold:

• Patches of gray snow mold take on a scalded appearance and then turn a gray-white.
• Gray snow mold patches may expand to 2 feet, with a gray-white halo.

Pro Tip: In many cases, the diseases look very similar and can only be positively differentiated by microscopic inspection. Turf grass blades are generally matted down within the patches. Small brown to black fungal structures may be embedded in the plant tissue.

What Can Be Done to Prevent It?

For homeowners, it is important to note that molds are not usually severe enough to justify chemical controls in a home lawn situation. If the problem is severe and warrants chemical control, apply controls as a preventative before winter hits and a follow-up application may be necessary in midwinter. You can also feel free to reach out to your TruGreen associate for assistance. 
 

How Do I Treat It? 

If you don't apply a preventative fungicide in fall and you find snow mold damage in your lawn in early spring, the bet thing to do is gently rake the affected areas to aid in recovery. Raking removes matted grass, improves air circulation, and stimulates new grass growth.
 
Now that you know a little more about this disease, you can be confident in your identification and treatment of it. Need a little extra help? Your TruGreen professional is here to help – visit us at www.trugreen.com or give us a call!