Bluegrass Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a type of fungus that can grow anywhere in your garden or home. Bluegrass is a type of grass that is particularly susceptible to powdery mildew, because the grass thrives in areas with a humid climate and because mildew tends to grow where there is excess moisture. Learning about powdery mildew will help you learn how to detect it and prevent it from growing back. Does this Spark an idea?
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Appearance
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Powdery mildew can cover your Kentucky bluegrass and make your lawn look sick, dirty and ill-cared for. Powdery mildew is a white and powdery substance that will coat the entire shaft of the grass. Powdery mildew can sometimes appear blue or green in its later stages. Mild powdery mildew growth looks like gray, fine powder.
Causes
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Powdery mildew will grow anywhere where there is excess moisture. Most often areas in your yard that have excess moisture are those that are shaded, lack proper ventilation or drainage. Powdery mildew spores will always be present in your yard, but they will become an issue only when you have excess moisture.
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Effects
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If favorable conditions for powdery mildew continue, the fungus will thrive on the plant for up to two weeks until they kill the plant. Once the plant is dead, the fungus will spread through air currents to other plants in your or your neighbor's back yards. Powdery mildew survives by eating organic matter. In the case of your Kentucky bluegrass, the powdery mildew will eat away the plant's cell wall, which will eventually kill it.
Control
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You can kill powdery mildew with chemical fungicides. These fungicides will attack the mold spores without damaging the Kentucky bluegrass. Some of these chemical fungicides can harm animals or small children, so take the proper precautions before using them.
Prevention
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Preventing powdery mildew growth means controlling excess moisture in your yard. This might mean cutting down trees or bushes that shade an area of your lawn that is susceptible to excess moisture. It might also mean draining the yard more efficiently.
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