Control
Non-chemical control
- Ensure that the lawn dries rapidly after dews or rainfall by improving the aeration and drainage. This can be done by a combination of scarifying, spiking and hollow- or solid tining
- Improve general airflow over the lawn by pruning back overhanging trees or shrubs
- Remove heavy dews in the morning with a switch (a long, pliable rod) or bamboo cane
- Avoid high doses of nitrogen fertiliser in late summer or autumn – use a proprietary autumn lawn feed instead
Chemical control
The only fungicide available to amateur gardeners for control of this disease is trifloxystrobin (Provanto Lawn Disease Control). The fungicide can be used all year round except during drought conditions or when the lawn is frozen. There is a risk of resistance occurring in the fungal population, therefore, the product should not be applied more than twice a year and is best used in conjunction with other control methods.
Some lawn maintenance companies offer treatment for certain diseases with a professional fungicide, but there is strict legislation controlling the application of professional products to domestic gardens. You will therefore need to satisfy yourself that the company is operating within the law.
Inclusion of a fungicide product does not indicate a recommendation or endorsement by the RHS. It is a list of products currently available to the home gardener.
The Sports Turf Research Institute recommends using iron sulphate, a mosskiller, to reduce the severity of the disease. This compound toughens the grass and has an acidifying effect on the turf, which in turn discourages snow mould.
Download
Fungicides for gardeners (Adobe Acrobat pdf document outlining fungicides available to gardeners)
Weedkillers for gardeners (Adobe Acrobat pdf document outlining weedkillers and mosskillers available to gardeners)