Identifying Powdery Mildew

Powdery Mildew is a very easily identified lawn disease, it is commonly noticed as white dust across the lawn, and is first seen around Autumn. Closer inspection of the lawn leaf will reveal that the leaf is actually being eaten away by this fungal disease. The white powdery substance on the lawn is actually the Mycelium threads being produced by the Powdery Mildew fungus.

Powdery Mildew can exist on most plant types and can be easily spread from lawns to plants and vice versa. It’s a very simple lawn disease to cure – so no need to delay fixing Powdery Mildew on the lawn.

Powdery Mildew is most often first seen as spots of a white dust like substance, but will very rapidly spread over an entire lawn if left untreated. The lawn disease can continue to spread to the lawns of both neighbours and friends on the shoes and clothing of people, pets, toys, bikes, cars and anything else that can come into contact with one lawn and then another.

Controlling Powdery Mildew On Lawns

Powdery Mildew is extremely simple to treat with good old Baking Soda. Baking Soda mixed with water in a watering can and then applied to a lawn will instantly change the pH levels of the turf. These new pH levels then make the lawn completely hostile to Powdery Mildew and the lawn disease will die as a result.

Cultural Management Of Powdery Mildew

Just like all lawn diseases, Powdery Mildew will find it extremely difficult to take hold in a healthy lawn. All the things we do right to look after our lawns properly will equally make the lawn more hostile to lawn diseases.

Cultural Management for lawns is all the everyday lawn care practices such as a good year round fertilising program, de-thatching when necessary, watering only in the mornings, pruning trees and bushes to reduce shade, and aerating the soil when required.