Leaf Spot Inspection Guide

Proper lawn maintenance will help you keep your lawn healthy and looking its best, and you will be more aware of when your lawn isn't thriving. Keeping a close eye on your lawn will help you notice any abnormalities, like the yellowing of grass and the dark spots that come with leaf spot.

A thorough inspection will allow you to take early action to stop budding leaf spot fungus in its tracks, before it takes hold in your turf.

If you're inspecting your turf for leaf spot, you must be aware of the symptoms this disease has, including small brown spots on affected leaves that will increase in size as the disease progresses. The spots will get larger in size and may have yellow or purple borders, converging into larger discolored patches until the whole leaf dies.

If you have seen these symptoms, but also notice wet, decaying grass near the roots, this is melting out, a separate but related disease that often follows leaf spot.

There are many turf diseases that may appear to be leaf spot or melting out - any blight or rotting - and it might be confusing to pinpoint the exact disease causing your lawn's disease. The American Horticulture Society is a great resource to find master gardeners in your area that can help properly identify leaf spot and melting out, as well as many other useful resources. It's important that after inspection, you diagnose your lawn disease correctly so you can treat it successfully.