Pests and Diseases

Keeping lawns healthy and green requires a sound pest and disease management plan. In this section, discover how to diagnose and manage turfgrass diseases, pests, and weeds. Learn more about beetles, grubs, webworms, billbugs, chinch bugs, and spotted lanternflies. Tips on organic care and using pesticides can be accessed as well.

Lawn Diseases

Turfgrasses and lawns can be attacked by various fungal diseases, including brown patch and silvery thread moss. Most lawn fungus issues, however, can be prevented and resolved with proper maintenance and care practices.

Brown patch is a turfgrass disease characterized by yellow rings or patches of sunken grass up to 3 feet in diameter. This grass fungus usually occurs under humid conditions and affects the crowns, stems, and leaves of plants. In Pennsylvania, brown ring patch is most common on close-cut annual bluegrass and appears in May or June.

Silvery thread moss is another increasingly prevalent lawn problem. Its onset can go unnoticed and, once established, it becomes extremely difficult to control and eradicate. Chemical control of moss in putting greens includes herbicides, metals, soaps, and salts.

Other widespread lawn diseases include dollar spot, gray snow mold, fairy ring (mushroom fungi), gray leaf spot, and powdery mildew.

Discover management practices and strategies with Penn State Extension’s guide to managing turfgrass diseases. Topics discussed include identifying lawn problems, as well as information on turfgrass fungicides.

Turf Pest Management

Identifying pest species correctly, understanding their life cycles, and treating them promptly is key for maintaining a healthy lawn. Some of the more common lawn pests are white grubs. The first step to managing such infestations is following sound cultural practices, such as avoiding over-fertilization and mowing at the proper height. Biological controls that can be used to manage white grubs include milky spore and beneficial nematodes.

Turfgrass can also be attacked by several types of chinch bugs. In Pennsylvania, hairy chinch bugs can be frequent pests of home lawns. Damage usually appears from July through August and affected areas coalesce into large patches of dead, brown grass.

Penn State Extension provides further information on managing home lawn pests such as sod webworms, different billbugs, and various ant species. Additionally, find resources on how to develop an Integrated Pest Management program for turfgrass.

Lawn and Turf Pesticide Application

When maintaining a lawn, you may encounter problems that require pesticide application. Before you apply any insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, or other materials, it is important to familiarize yourself with pesticide basics and safe practices. It is also sensible to research local regulations and, if required, obtain a pesticide license.

In this section, lawn and turfgrass industry professionals can access Penn State Extension’s wide array of resources. Private pesticide applicator training is available in both Spanish and English. Recertification credits can be obtained through workshops and webinars, such as the Green Industry Pesticide Update and Professional Pest Managers School.