Gray snow mold

Gray snow mold is also called Typhula incarnata, Tyhula rot, or white snow mold.

Typhula incarnata is a typical winter lawn disease. It mainly occurs when there is a closed snow cover. Ideal conditions are a damp, cool climate at 0-8 °C. The longer the snow remains on the lawn, the greater the risk of the disease breaking out. You can recognize grey snow mould by the brownish to light green irregular spots. The infestation starts at the tip of the leaf. It does not form rings as clearly as pink snow mold. The grasses feel papery and dry. A grayish-white fungal mycelium develops in high humidity. Brownish-orange sclerotia are visible on the leaves and the root collar. The infested areas often smell of fungi.

Infestation-promoting factors:

• Long snow covers

• Snow on unfrozen ground

• Poor lighting conditions

• Temperatures from 0-8°

• High humidity

• Dew formation

• Soft cell tissue

• Late reseeding

• Shading the grasses

• High cutting height of the grasses

• Waterlogging

• Lawn felt

• High nitrogen applications in the fall

• Low potassium applications in the fall

• Lawn mower blunt blades

Preventive measures:

• Balanced and even nutrient supply

• Mowing with sharp blades

• Reduce thatch (scarify regularly during the year, apply lawn aerator and topdress)

• Scarifying in spring to remove infested plant material

• Also mow the lawn in winter if it has grown back a lot and no frost or snow is expected in the next few days.

• Remove snow from the lawn if the ground is not frozen

• Prevent waterlogging

• Remove dew from the blades of grass

• No late reseeding

• No high nitrogen applications in the fall

• Sufficient potassium, magnesium and mag data in the fall

• Light iron application in late fall