Snow mold is a fungus that can be found on most landscapes in the winter months.
This fungus actually thrives on the water and salt residue left by melting snow. The best thing you can do for your lawn is scraping it away before it has a chance to spread its spores into the soil and make it permanently damaging.
You may not even notice this common type of fungus until spring when you see patches of yellowish-brown or black spots on your grass, which are indicative of snow mold infestation. These patches will continue to grow as long as they have access to moisture from melted snow or rainwater, so if these conditions persist then expect more fungi growth during the following weeks.
Snow mold is a fungus found on most landscapes in the winter months
Snow mold, a fungal disease that thrives in the cold winter months, can spread throughout your lawn and kill it if not treated quickly. The fungus is actually water-soluble, so simply watering your grass does nothing to stop or destroy snow mold. For this reason, the prevention of infestation is important.
How to remove snow mold from lawn
Once you have removed the infected grass, clean up and dispose of it.
The best way to stop snow mold infestation is to use preventative measures. As soon as winter ends, allow your lawn to dry out so that there is no water left sitting on the blades of grass. You can also create pathways so that water travels to the sides of your lawn rather than sitting on it, this will prevent the fungus spores from being able to spread.
How to prevent snow mold from happening
Protect your lawn with the proper winter-proofing precautions. If you're planning on stopping by a big box store to pick up some supplies, be sure to get an ice-melting salt this will protect your lawn.
Remove snow as soon as possible from your lawn. This will help to prevent the snow from melting and leaving salt residue on your lawn.
Snow mold thrives in warm, damp soil so it's important that you keep your grass as dry as possible in a well-drained area. The best way to accomplish this is with an aerator. When the snow melts it might seem like all is well, but you still have to worry about water that got trapped on the grass. The first frost will likely freeze this water and it will cause problems with ice damage
Eliminate weeds in your lawn. They love moisture and are a great host for snow mold. If you want to save money then try using vinegar. It is non-toxic and effective against weeds including dandelions.
The blog concludes with how to remove snow mold from the lawn, how to prevent it, and what you can do if you happen to have a lot of snow in your area. It also talks about the importance of keeping grass dry so that there is no water left on the blades for fungus spores to grow.