Lawn rust is a type of fungal infection that can be alarming when you see its orange, yellow, or rust-colored dust coating your once-pristine grass. What’s worse is that this disease can even cover your clothes and shoes, spreading the problem all over your property. With a bit of knowledge and care, however, lawn rust can be managed or even avoided all together. Keep reading to learn how to keep rust off your turf!
Lawn rust is most recognizable by its distinctive discoloration. If you walk across your lawn and notice an orange or yellow powder sticking to your shoes or lawn mower, you’re likely dealing with lawn rust. This powder consists of spores produced by rust fungi, such as Puccinia or Uromyces species, which infect turfgrass of all kinds.
Affected grass blades may appear thin, weak, and covered with small, raised pustules. These pustules rupture to release the fungal spores, giving the grass a rusty appearance. As the disease progresses, the infected grass can turn yellow and even brown. While lawn rust can affect various grass types, it is most common in Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. To confirm lawn rust, closely examine the grass blades for the powdery substance. A quick rub of the grass between your fingers will often reveal the orange or yellow residue.
How To Identify Rust:
Lawn rust thrives under specific environmental conditions and is often a result of poor lawn care practices. This disease is most common during late summer and early fall, particularly when there are warm days, cool nights, and heavy dew. High humidity and frequent rain can also create the perfect conditions for rust fungi to grow.
Common Causes Of Rust:
The good news is that lawn rust is rarely fatal to your grass. While it weakens the lawn by slowing its growth and reducing its aesthetic appeal, it typically doesn’t kill the grass outright. As is the case with all lawn diseases, lawn rust can create an environment that invites other diseases or pests, leading to further damage. Rust-infected grass may become thin, patchy, and discolored, which can impact the overall health and appearance of your lawn.
Most notably, the powdery spores that overtake grass blades can completely block out sunlight from being absorbed and used for photosynthesis. This is a lawn disease issue that is unique to rust, and it is the biggest challenge you will face if rust begins to spread across your lawn. It is important to identify the problem as early as possible so your grass does not get completely blocked off from the sunlight.
Lawn rust spreads through its fungal spores, which can be easily carried by wind, water, lawn equipment, or even people and pets. The spores attach to healthy grass blades and, under favorable conditions, germinate and infect the new host. Fungal spores need water to germinate, and lawns with prolonged dew, rain, or irrigation are more prone to infection.
One key factor that contributes to the spread is frequent mowing without proper cleaning of equipment. If your mower blades or shoes carry spores from an infected area to a healthy one, the disease can quickly take hold. Crowded lawns where grass blades are densely seeded and close together can facilitate spore movement and speed up the rate of infection.
The best way to deal with lawn rust is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Of course, despite your best efforts, issues like lawn rust can befall even the most well-maintained lawn. That’s where professional lawn care comes in, and companies like Simple Lawns are here to help. Whether you have a severe infection and need immediate treatments, or if you just want to keep your grass healthy all year long to discourage lawn diseases and other issues, professional lawn care is the way to go.
Below are our tips on how to deal with lawn rust invading your turf, and feel free to give us a call for more information or to get a free quote on our services for the Vancouver, WA area!
