Not only the lawn is lush, but also diseases: An agronomist clearly explained how to properly care for it

“This year’s summer season was exceptional for lawn growers in Lithuania – atypical weather conditions caused both impressive lawn growth and unexpected disease outbreaks, according to a press release.

 

“This year we had everything – from 30-degree heat in April to prolonged frosts in May. Usually, spring is the best time for lawn growth, but low soil temperatures stopped plant vegetation, so fertilizers did not have the desired effect,” says agronomist Valdemaras Mediekša, founder of “Sprendimai vejai”. After the spring disasters passed, according to the lawn expert, June was ideal for lawn growth – sufficient rain and optimal temperatures meant that even yard owners with irrigation systems used them extremely rarely. However, excess moisture provoked fungal diseases – red threadworm spread throughout Lithuania.

 

“The spread of red thread was particularly facilitated by moderate temperatures, constantly moist grass, relative humidity and a lack of nitrogen. Unfortunately, effective professional tools are difficult to find in Lithuania – people send them from neighboring countries, because our market is small and registering such production is too expensive for producers,” says the expert. However, the season also had many advantages – due to the absence of heat, it was possible to carry out “core” aeration, lawn renewal and renovation work throughout the summer. Now, according to the agronomist, the most important thing is to finish the season properly. Lawn care is becoming a hobby “The last fertilization with summer fertilizers is carried out around mid-August, later we start fertilizing with autumn fertilizers. We fertilize for the last time around mid-September, and if the lawn is strong, you can use the famous “cocktail” – MCPA + “Banvel” for weed control. "You can't delay - late fertilization and early snow without frost in the spring can result in widespread spring mold, wilt or rot," emphasizes the lawn expert.

 

He adds that scarification is recommended before the last autumn fertilization, especially if a robotic lawnmower is operating in the yard. In spring, when performing this procedure, the blades can be driven deeper, as vegetation intensifies, and in autumn, when daylight hours shorten and growth slows down, the blades should be raised slightly so as not to damage the lawn, which recovers more slowly. The agronomist also encourages lawn growers to seek advice from professionals. "Recently, advice generated by artificial intelligence tools has been increasing in social networks and groups. Although technologies are interesting, the solutions they offer do not always correspond to reality. A lawn, like any plant, loves knowledge-based care the most," emphasizes V. Mediekša. He notes that the ranks of amateur lawn care enthusiasts are growing – people are taking care of their green yard carpet as a serious hobby, and they like to share their experience with others. For example, one of the most popular Facebook groups on this topic, “Landcare in your own yard,” has over 76,000 members.”