Explore helpful resources for common lawn care topics — everything from grass types to weeds to diseases to pests.
Lawn Diseases
Turf Grasses
Lawn Pests
Grass Basics
Grassy Weeds
Broadleaf Weeds
Common Lawn Diseases
Powdery Mildew
Powdery Mildew - Erysiphe graminis
Powdery Mildew
For shaded lawns and landscaping, Powdery Mildew is a common lawn disease that primarily affects lawns in the northern United States from April through October.
Stripe Smut is a lawn disease that occurs during cooler weather and is more common in the northern parts of the country during the spring and fall. Caused by the lawn fungus Ustilago striiformis, this lawn disease may also show up in southern states during parts of the summer or anywhere during long periods of cool weather in the spring or fall.
Slime Mold is caused by thelawn fungus Mucilago spp. This nonparasitic lawn disease affects all types of warm- and cool-season grasses across the mainland of the United States, with damage typically occ+C14+C15
Ascochyta is a lawn disease that spreads rapidly, leaving large areas of bleached, blighted grass in its wake. Ascochyta attacks several different types of grass across the northern United States with most damage occurring during the summer.
Brown Patch is a hot-weather lawn disease that is sometimes referred to as Large Patch or Rhizoctonia Blight. Brown Patch affects most types of grass across the country, with signs of damage appearing during late summer in the northern states and fall through mid-winter in the southern states.
Dollar Spot is a common lawn disease that marks your lawn with its namesake: silver dollar-sized patches. Dollar Spot typically affects all warm- and cool-season grasses across the country. Infections are most common during the summer months across northern states and during the spring and fall in southern states.
Fairy Ring is actually a family of lawn diseases that are caused by more than 40 species of Basidiomycete lawn fungi. Fairy Ring is very common and affects all types of grass found in the United States, with damage occurring from early spring through early winter.
Gray Leaf Spot is a lawn disease that can quickly turn destructive. It occurs in most areas of the eastern United States where Perennial Ryegrass is grown, often developing in areas prone to drought. Gray Leaf Spot affects northern climates from late summer through the fall and southern climates primarily in the summer.
Take-all Root Rot - Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis
Take-all Root Rot
Take-all Root Rot is a lawn disease that commonly attacks yards in the southeastern United States. Most damage occurs from early to late summer and is caused by the lawn fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis.
Despite its name, Kentucky Bluegrass is a cool-season turf grass that is originally native to Europe. The popularity of this type of grass for homeowners rests in the fact that is it perennial and sod-forming, making it ideal for home lawns. Kentucky Bluegrass also has excellent recuperative and reproductive capabilities, plus a greater tolerance to colder temperatures than some other cool-season turf grasses. That's why you'll find Kentucky Bluegrass in lawns throughout most of North America, though less commonly in warmer climates along the Gulf Coast.
Perennial Ryegrass is a cool-season turf grass that is known for its rapid germination and establishment, tolerance to traffic, and resistance to insects and stress. This competitive grass is also well-adapted to moderate temperatures, leading to Perennial Ryegrass being mixed with Kentucky Bluegrass for use in home lawns, schools and parks. This turf grass can be found in lawns throughout North America, though it is less common in Florida, Texas and other southern parts of the United States.
Seashore Paspalum is aptly named due to its high tolerance for salt. This, along with its other desirable turf grass characteristics, makes it a favorite for areas where either the soil or irrigation water has a high salt content.
St. Augustinegrass is a warm-season turf grass that grows quickly in the summer months before slowing in the spring and fall. St. Augustinegrass offers a particularly coarse and spongy feel. Out of all of the warm-season grasses, St. Augustinegrass is the most shade-tolerant, though it isn't typically recommended for high-traffic areas. Instead, it is often used for decorative lawns and other general purpose lawns throughout the southeastern United States.
Tall Fescue is a cool-season turf grass that is well-adapted to either sunny or partially shaded areas. Known for its durability as well as its tolerance to traffic, heat and drought, it can be found in home lawns across North America. Certain varieties of Tall Fescue can contain endophytic fungi, which offer natural disease and insect resistance.
The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is a planthopper insect known for causing significant damage to trees, vines, crops, and other types of plants. SLF is also a nuisance pest due to their size and tendency to congregate in large groups, which can be alarming to the general public. Also known as Lycorma delicatula, this invasive species is native to China, India, and Vietnam and was first detected in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014.
The Brood X Cicada, often referred to as the 17-year locust or periodical cicada, is an insect that emerges in large numbers after completing a 17-year life cycle underground. Cicadas are part of the hemiptera order of insects also known as ‘true bugs’. Most damage done by these insects is by slitting and flagging of twigs in order to deposit eggs. This generally has little effect on the overall health of mature trees. Brood X contains three separate species known as Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada cassinii and Magicicada septendecula. The next emerging population is expected in summer of 2021, affecting primarily eastern and upper Midwestern states.
White Grubs are an extremely common type of lawn-destroying insect that includes a number of different species. Also known as Scleranthus annuus, White Grubs can be found in all different types of grasses all across North America. Eventually, these lawn pests become beetles.
The Fall Armyworm is a lawn-damaging insect that can be found attacking Bermudagrass, Creeping Bentgrass, Ryegrasses and all Fescues. This lawn pest, also known as Spodoptera frugiperda, inhabits much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
The Red Imported Fire Ant, also known as Solenopsis invictaor RIFA, is a toxic, highly aggressive lawn pest that feeds on other insects. They are also known for occasionally biting and stinging people. Red Imported Fire Ants can be found throughout much of the southeastern United States. Although they don't feed on grass, they still sometimes act as lawn-damaging insects.
The Greenbug Aphid is a lawn-damaging insect that primarily attacks Kentucky Bluegrass, but can sometimes be found on Annual Bluegrass, Canada Bluegrass, Chewings Fescue and Tall Fescue. Also known as Schizaphis graminum, this lawn pest can infest most parts of North America and is often more of a problem in healthy lawns.
The Southern Chinch Bug is a unique lawn-damaging insect that changes colors, sizes and marking throughout each nymph stage. Also known as Blissus insularis, this lawn pest is typically found in the southeastern part of the United States attacking St. Augustinegrass, but is also occasionally found in Zoysiagrass, Bahiagrass, Bermudagrass and Centipedegrass.
The Green June Beetle is a fairly large lawn-damaging insect that attacks many different types of grass from New York to Texas and parts of California. Also known as Cotinis nitida, most of the damage caused by this grub occurs during September and early October.
The Sting Nematode is a microscopic roundworm that primarily affects Bermudagrass and Bentgrasses in the southeastern and midwestern United States. Also known as Belonolaimus spp., this lawn pest prefers moist, sandy soils.
Annual Bluegrass is an annual grassy weed that is also known as Annual Meadowgrass, Annual Spear-grass, Wintergrass, "Poa" or its scientific name, Poa annua.
What is Doveweed (Murdannia Nudiflora) - Murdannia nudiflora
What is Doveweed (Murdannia Nudiflora)
Doveweed is a summer annual grassy weed that is also known as Naked Stem Dewflower, or by its scientific name, Murdannia nudiflora. This lawn weed is a common invader of home yards.
Egyptian Crabgrass is a summer annual grassy weed that is also known as Crowfootgrass, Durban Crowfootgrass or by its scientific name, Dactyloctenium aegyptium. This lawn weed is named for its crow's foot-like seed head.
Green Foxtail is a clump-forming annual grassy weed that is also known as Green Bristlegrass or by its scientific name, Setaria viridis. This lawn weed gets its name from the appearance of its seed head.
Smutgrass is a perennial grassy weed that is also known as Sporobolus indicus or by its scientific name, Sporobolus poiretii. This lawn weed produces seeds that are often infected by a smutty fungus, lending this plant its name.
Green Kyllinga is a perennial grassy weed that is also known as Perennial Kyllinga, Shortleaf Spike Sedge or by its scientific name, Kyllinga brevifolia. This lawn weed thrives in moist soils.
Star of Bethlehem is a perennial grassy weed that is also known as Spring Starflower or by its scientific name, Ipheion uniflorum. This lawn weed is poisonous and can smell like onions.
Hairy Crabgrass is a summer annual grassy weed that is also known as Large Crabgrass or by its scientific name, Digitaria sanguinalis. These types of lawn weeds often require a professional application of a select crabgrass killer.
Stinkgrass is an annual grassy weed that is also known by its scientific name, Eragrostis cilianensis. This lawn weed is named for the foul odor it emits when damaged.
Tropical Chickweed is a warm-season annual broadleaf weed that is also known as Heartleaf Drymary and West Indian Chickweed. Its scientific name is Drymaria cordata.
Virginia Peppergrass can grow either as a winter or summer annual broadleaf weed. This versatile plant is also commonly known as Virginia Pepperweed, Virginia Peppercress, Poor-man’s Pepper and Pepper-grass. Its scientific name is Lepidium virginicum.
Heal-all is a creeping stoloniferous perennial broadleaf weed that is also known as Brunella vulgaris, Self-heal, Carpentersweed or its scientific name, Prunella vulgaris.
Prostrate Spurge is a summer annual broadleaf weed that is also commonly known as Chamaesyce maculata, Euphorbia maculate and Spotted Spurge. Its scientific name is Euphorbia supina.
Tropical Chickweed is a warm-season annual broadleaf weed that is also known as Heartleaf Drymary and West Indian Chickweed. Its scientific name is Drymaria cordata.
Dollarweed is a water-loving, summer perennial broadleaf weed that is also known as Pennywort, Marsh Pennywort or its scientific name, Hydrocotyle verticillata.
Henbit is a winter annual broadleaf weed that is also known as Dead Nettle, Henbit Deadnettle, Blind Nettle and Bee Nettle. Its scientific name is Lamium amplexicaule.
Purple Cudweed is a biennial broadleaf weed that can also grow as a summer or winter annual broadleaf weed. This extremely versatile plant is also known as Cudweed, Chafe-weed, Catfoot, Rabbit Tobacco, Everlasting and Gnaphalium purpureum.
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