Natural Green Lawn

I tell you what guys, this year has been one of the worst ever for the very common lawn disease called “Dollar Spot.” In most years, in fact, dollar spot isn’t some thing I am very concerned with. But this year is very different.

Dollar spot appears mostly in lawns that are “sod on clay” which means areas of the country where sod was laid directly on top of clay soil. That pretty much covers a good portion of the midwest and south. It’s a fungus that resides in the soil and attacks weakened root structures in turf causing small brown spots that start out the size of silver dollars. In the picture below, you can see the start of dollar spot in a very healthy lawn.

I have seen it in all kinds of grass from kentucky blue, perennial rye and st augustine. Like I said, in most years, I don’t see it as that big of a deal. But this year we have had sustained dumping rains pretty much all summer with intermittent super high temps and humidity. Now, I know we get these kind of conditions every year, but this season they have been long sustained over and over and over. This has made the disease spread faster and further in lawns where permanent damage may be seen.

In the second picture below, you can see a severe case of dollar spot. This is in a “heat zone” between the street and the sidewalk and the added heat allowed the fungus to spread very fast.

So How Can We Stop Dollar Spot Fungus?
The best way to cure dollar spot disease in your lawn is to prevent it using a natural fungicide called Serenade Disease Control. This product works very well on many lawn fungus problems, including dollar spot.

But you are here because you already have brown spots in your lawn! And the good news is that Serenade Disease Cont32 Oz Con is still the product of choice because using it will STOP the spread of the fungus any further. You will need to apply it a few times following the label instructions.

In addition, I would suggest cutting your watering and irrigation habits down to about once per week. When you do water, water for a solid hour in each spot. We want to go with infrequent yet deep waterings when dollar spot is evident.

I also want you to mow very tall and catch your clippings. Dollar spot can be spread through contaminated clippings so catching them and disposing of them is best when the disease is raging in your lawn.

Finally, I want you to fertilize normally using one of my recommended organic natural fertilizers. This will give you slow release nitrogen that will keep the lawn growing throughout the course of the problem.

It’s August right now, and many of ya’ll are starting to tire of the whole lawn care season aren’t ya? Yep, you’d rather be doing other things rather than fertilizing your lawn, but I assure you, summer lawn fertilization is very important! Even if you are not all about “natural lawn care” and everything like I am, I want you to read and heed what I am saying here because it all works out in the end. A thick, healthy green lawn is what we want, and summer fertilization is an important part of that. (get my step-by-step fertilizing guide here)

Best Summer Lawn Fertilizer

Since it is hot and dry this time of year, I want you guys to consider using an organic lawn fertilizer. The reason for this is the natural slow release that organics give. You see, organic and natural lawn fertilizers break down and release their nutrients from heat, not water. This is why you have to water in most of the synthetic fert you get at the store, whereas organics just need time… slow time… slow release! THAT is why they work well and they won’t burn the lawn or push an over-abundance or growth.

I have two preferences for summer lawn fertilizers: Milorganite and Ringer Lawn Restore. Let’s talk about each one for a bit.

Milorganite Organic Fertilizer For Lawns

Milorganite should be used (in my opinion) at the end of May as your early summer boost fertilizer. It is basically sewage from Milwaukee that has been combined with iron and packaged for lawns! Gross I know, but by the time you get it, just little charcoal colored pellets remain. It is very slow release and contains iron and nitrogen in quantities that will give your lawn a sustained feeding during the transition from spring to summer.

You need to follow the directions on the label, which at the time I am writing this, call for 15lbs of Milorganite per 1,000 square feet of lawn space. Guys, that is gonna feel like you are shoveling it on, but trust me, it will be just fine. Milorganite will not burn your grass and you have to apply a lot in order to get the long-term sustained slow release we are looking for. A related article on lawn iron will help you understand why I like this fertilizer for early summer so much.

See a picture of my lawn below taken August 4 just after we had sustained temps in the mid-90s here in Indiana. Color stayed really nice.

Ringer Lawn Restore Organic Fertilizer

My second choice for a summer natural fertilizer is Ringer Lawn Restore. I recommend you apply this one in mid-August just to help push your lawn through later summer pressures and get you firmly into the fall lawn season. Ringer is lots of chicken poop and parts and all that… YUCK! … and it smells, but I tell you what guys, the results it brings are awesome.

Ringer works well because it contains nitrogen and potassium which are very essential elements when it comes to the turf’s ability to sustain summer heat, lack of water and insect stress.  You don’t need quite as much Ringer Lawn Restore to get good results; bout 10lbs of product applied to each 1,000 sq feet of lawn area. It will seem like a lot still, but have no fear!

If you use these two fertilizers on your lawn this summer and apply them properly, you will have nice results that will help your lawn look good during the hottest months. Of course, I must stress the importance of proper lawn watering and proper lawn mowing during the entire year, but especially when it is hot outside!

Good luck lawn care lovers… your questions are welcome below in the comment section: