Is There a Fungus Among Us?

The past few weeks on Long Island have brought stretches of 90+ degree heat and high humidity—perfect conditions for lawn fungus to thrive. Our Long Island lawns are cool-season grasses, and they struggle during July and August. Nighttime watering only makes things worse.

💧 Watering Tip: Set your system to start around 2:00 a.m. (or shortly after) and finish before you begin your morning routine. Most irrigation systems are connected to household water service, and watering while the family is using sinks and showers creates conflicts.

Common Summer Lawn Fungus

During heat waves, lawns are often attacked by fungi such as:

• Red thread
• Dollar spot
• Brown patch
• Pythium blight

These appear as large, uneven patches of dead grass. Many homeowners assume the lawn is dry, but when I’ve tested soil samples recently, I’ve found plenty of moisture. The problem isn’t lack of water—it’s fungal stress.

🌱 Watering Recommendation: Water every other day during extreme heat and extend each watering cycle slightly. This gives soil a chance to drain and prevents conditions that encourage fungus.

Build Lawn Health from the Soil Up

The strongest defense against fungus is a healthy, resilient lawn. That begins with the soil. Think of soil as the lawn’s stomach—it must be balanced to digest nutrients.

• Ideal pH for turf: 6.2 – 7.0
• Most lawns we test fall below this range, which limits nutrient absorption. Fertilizers and treatments won’t work effectively if pH is off.

✅ Solution: Apply lime twice a year. It’s simple, affordable, and makes a big difference.

Other soil-building options include:

• Products with bio-nutrients (like compost)
• Compost tea
• Organic fertilizers (e.g., Espoma Lawn Food, made by the same company as Holly-Tone)
• Humic acid
• Fertigation systems (injecting nutrients directly into irrigation—we install and maintain these for many clients)

Fungicides: Use with Care

While fungicides can be effective, most are toxic to people, pets, and wildlife—and they wash into our water supply. Worse, they kill both harmful and beneficial fungi (the good fungi help plants absorb water and nutrients).

Thankfully, there are safer alternatives that work well:

• Neem oil
• Biological fungicide (e.g., Bacillus subtilis)
• Compost tea
• Baking soda

The Bottom Line

Maintaining a beautiful, healthy lawn requires discipline: proper watering, soil care, and timely treatments. Partnering with a knowledgeable, licensed lawn care company ensures that problems are diagnosed early and addressed correctly.

🌳 A thriving landscape is an investment. Maintaining your sprinkler system and lawn care program is far less costly than replacing turf, shrubs, or trees.

To learn more, visit www.rainrich.com or call 631-423-2211 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!