A lush, verdant lawn is often taken for granted as merely an aesthetic element of the landscape. However, beneath the surface lies a complex living ecosystem, and invasion by fungal pathogens can quickly upset its delicate balance. More than simple eye sores, fungi threaten long-term harm if allowed to spread unchecked.
Using preventative fungicide for lawn treatments at the right times is crucial to fending off fungi and maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn. Let’s explore the most common categories of fungicides for lawn care and how they work to bust troublesome turf fungi.
Contact Fungicides
Contact fungicide for lawn work by creating a protective barrier right on the surface of grass blades and crowns. This barrier prevents fungal spores from germinating and growing into the plant. Popular brand names include Daconil and Echo.
Contact fungicides are preventative in nature rather than curative. They won’t eradicate an existing fungal infection but can stop it from worsening.
Many contact fungicides contain chlorothalonil as the active ingredient. They typically have residual activity that lasts about 7-14 days depending on environmental conditions.
Local Systemic Fungicides
Local systemic fungicides get absorbed into plant tissue and distributed locally to protect a small region of the turfgrass plant. This gives them a slight leg up over contact fungicides in terms of distribution. However, local systematics still only prevent fungal growth rather than curing it.
Active ingredients in this family include propiconazole and myclobutanil. An example brand name is Bayer Advanced Fungus Control. Local systemics move within the waxy layer of the leaf surface to protect a small portion of the turf plant. Residual activity lasts 21-28 days.
Systemic Fungicides
Let’s now move on to products that offer true whole-plant protection by moving through the entire vascular system. Systemic fungicides are taken up by the roots and translocated to leaves, crowns, and other tissue via internal channels. This provides the most complete, enduring coverage to actively beat back fungi.
Common systemic fungicide ingredients are propiconazole, myclobutanil, azoxystrobin, and fluoxastrobin. Some examples are Bayer Advanced Season Long Disease Control and Scott’s DiseaseEx. Systemics offer the longest residual period at 28-45 days depending on the environment. They also have curative abilities to stop active infections in their tracks.
Combination Fungicides: The Best of Both Worlds
Combination fungicides blend contact and systemic abilities to provide rapid protection along with extended coverage. Combinations with two active ingredients propiconazole + chlorothalonil are common. Brand names include Scotts Disease Control and Bonide Infuse Systemic Fungicide.
With both contact and systemic abilities, these combination products offer the benefits of stopping spore germination right away while also translocating through plant tissue over time.
Choose the Right Fungicide for Lawn Care
No matter which specific fungicide for lawn care you choose, always carefully follow the label directions for mixing and application. Most fungicides work best under preventative programs applied on regular intervals throughout the growing season. An integrated approach using proper cultural practices, disease-resistant varieties, and smart fungicide rotation gives you the best chance for fungus-free turf. With vigilance and the right fungicide tools, you can keep fungal diseases from invading that flawless lawn.
