Winter seems to have hung on for most of January in the show-me state.
Two separate events, combined with colder-than-normal temperatures, have resulted in snow on the ground for several weeks.
The St. Louis Lambert International Airport has accumulated over 10 inches of snow this January. Kansas City International Airport collected even more, with 13.4 inches. Factor in a colder-than-average first three weeks of the month, snow has remained on the ground for several weeks.
In mid and eastern Missouri, it’s been decades since snow has stuck around for so long. At least an inch of snow remained on the ground in St. Louis for 16 consecutive days, the longest in 24 years.
Kansas City had a trace of snow from Jan. 5 to 23 because of significant snowfall, totaling 18 days.
Recently, however, there’s been a big thaw. With the mercury climbing into the 40s and even 50s during the day. This has resulted in massive amounts of snowmelt, but it will take your grass longer to dry out.
Do you have odd spots on your grass in a circular pattern or even areas that look weblike? A pink or even grayish color? If so, it’s snow mold and happened because of prolonged snow coverage.
What is it?
According to Cardinal Lawn’s Lawn Disease Library, snow mold or snow rot is a type of fungal lawn disease that forms from sustained snow cover or wet leaves. It is most visible in spring after snow melts, but sometimes it is observed in winter after a big snowfall and then a thaw.
Any grass that has endured cold temperatures and snow cover can be affected. If left untreated, the lawn can be damaged.
This type of fungus thrives in cold, damp conditions, causing damage to the individual blades of grass or even the crown and roots of grass, and may appear gray in circle-shapes or even pink webs. The pink type is the more severe fungus and does not need snow cover, as it proliferates when the grass is wet and temperatures are below 45 F.
Lawn diseases typically form in warm weather, but according to TruGreen’s lawn care tips, snow mold only occurs on actively growing winter grass in cooler weather and may survive up to 60-degree temperatures if the air and soil remain moist. Wind or even splashing rain can spread the spores from one part of your lawn to another.
Although it’s impossible to completely prevent, some fall planning might help keep it at bay. TruGreen recommends mowing your lawn short before the grass goes dormant, 2 to 2.5 inches. Shorter grass is less likely to mat down.
It’s best to avoid nitrogen fertilizer in the late fall and make sure your soil drains properly to prevent excess moisture. Late summer or fall aeration can help break up the plant material that exists between the soil and the grass.
During the winter, don’t let the snow pile up. Those large piles that were created from clearing driveways and sidewalks need to be spread out and shortened. Any piles that take long to melt could be potential breeding grounds for the fungus.
Snow mold may happen despite best efforts. Ways to treat it include raking the matted grass, which adds circulation and helps to stimulate new grass growth. If your grass still doesn’t appear healthy, consult a lawn care company.
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