Fighting Turf Diseases 
The illustrations on this page may appear disturbing. 
They should not be, because the diseases shown are not common 
on home lawns, with the possible exception of snow mold. 
Unfavorable soil conditions and adverse weather bring 
on fungus diseases. Soil compaction retards or stops free 
movement of air and water in the soil and creates ideal 
conditions for disease. Little can be done about the 
weather but soil modification can be done when the lawn 
is built and needed drainage provided. Compact lawn 
soils must be opened up by forking or aerification, 
especially when soil is heavy or subject to traffic from 
playing children. School athletic fields are an example 
of areas where turf maintenance is difficult even when 
conditions are ideal, due to compaction from excessive 
traffic. Diseases of turf are more easily prevented than 
cured. Attention to drainage, aeration and good physical 
soil conditions will be rewarded by good turf, capable 
of survival during periods of bad weather. 
SNOW MOLD 

Snow Mold 
Snow mold appears in early Spring and may be severe 
even without snow, despite the name. This disease 
occurs in periods of low temperature when surface 
moisture is in excess. It is especially bad along the 
edges of ice sheets. As the ice is melted by the bright 
sun, the accumulated moisture creates an ideal condition 
for Snow Mold fungus to develop. Snow Mold is easily 
identified. The grass in irregular patches of distinct 
patterns appears to be scalded and moldy. Turf is fre- 
quently killed when the disease is severe. Complete 
recovery occurs from mild attacks when weather becomes 
favorable for turf growth. Snow Mold can be prevented 
with applications of Calo-Clor, Tersan, or Semesan in 
the late Fall. 
BROWN PATCH 
Brown Patch is somewhat like Snow Mold in appear- 
ance and size of area effected and is a warm weather 
disease. It strikes always in periods of very high hu- 
10 

Large Brown Patch 
midity and temperature. When adverse weather condi- 
tions persist, damage to turf may prove fatal. This 
disease is accentuated by heavy, compact, water-soaked 
soil. Mild attacks recover quickly when temperature 
moderates and air circulates freely. Properly constructed 
lawns with good drainage and favorable soil conditions — 
are seldom damaged severely by brown patch. Mid- 
summer damage to grass from other causes 1s often in- 
correctly diagnosed as Brown Patch. 
Mild attacks can be quickly stopped with applications 
of Tersan. Severe attacks may be alleviated somewhat 
on water-soaked soils by forking or aerification with the 
Soil-Aire. Light applications of hydrated lime, 3 to 5 
pounds per 1000 square feet, sprayed or dusted on, often 
stops Brown Patch and results in quick recovery. Good 
lawns containing much bentgrass are particularly sus- 
ceptible to attack. Such lawns should have preventive 
applications of Tersan as unfavorable climatic condi- 
tions develop. Calo-Clor is also effective against 
Brown Patch but this material is quite caustic to tender 
turf and may cause damage unless carefully applied at 
very light rates. 

Dollar Spot 
