Controlling Powdery Mildew On Lawns

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease of many different plant types, including home lawns. This lawn disease is most easily noticed by a white powdery substance which appears on the lawn leaf, and which is easily brushed off.

This fungal disease most often first appears in the Fall with small white spots first appearing and then very quickly spreading to cover the entire lawn surface. The most common areas of sod which is affected by Powdery Mildew are most often in the shaded areas of the lawn. However, the disease can encroach and spread onto the sunny areas of the turf as well, albeit at a slower rate of growth and spreading.

Thankfully, Powdery Mildew is very easily treated and repaired with a minimum of wither effort or cost to the lawn owner.

There are several fungicide treatments available for curing this fungal disease on lawns, however, these product are never really necessary, when one of the most effective treatments possible is much simpler and cheaper, and with an almost 100% success rate.

Baking Soda is about the best cure there is for the control and treatment of Powdery Mildew. Baking Soda controls Powdery Mildew by changing the pH level on the lawn to a state which is so Alkaline that the Powdery Mildew cannot survive, and then dies off as a result.

Simply mix one teaspoon of Baking Soda with one quart of water in a watering can, mix it well and apply to the lawn.

Apply the Baking Soda solution in liberal amounts onto the lawn surface, mixing up and applying more solution as is required. The Baking Soda cannot harm the lawn so there is no need to use it sparingly.

In most cases, the lawn will require several treatments to entirely kill off the Powdery Mildew. Keep repeating the same treatment process each time the Powdery Mildew becomes apparent. Even if the disease only begins re-appearing in small spots or circles, it will be necessary to treat the entire lawn again, as there may still be many other infected areas which have not begun showing signs of having an infection. So it's easiest and most effective to treat the entire lawn at any subsequent treatments.

If the lawn has continued and repeated outbreaks of this lawn disease, then the lawn owner may need to investigate and re-evaluate their lawn fertilizing program, as the excessive use of Nitrogen from fertilizers will often cause lawns to become far more susceptible to outbreaks of Powdery Mildew.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/controlling-powdery-mildew-on-lawns-3762539.html

Ryan Quartermaine has been a professional in the lawn care industry for over 10 years, and discusses all aspects of lawn care tips with homeowners on his website, The American Lawn Guide, including topics such as how to control mole crickets.