How to get rid of Snow Mold?

What is Snow Mold?

Snow mold is the common term used to describe a plethora of cold-resistant fungus. These grow on lawns under the snow during winter. This fungus can cause damage to the grass by creating circular growths with patches of dead grass in the center. Snow molds can survive for a week to a month after the snow melts. This can cause significant harm to the lawn. This fungal growth can also cause allergies and health problems for people with chronic respiratory issues, like asthma. 

Snow mold forms as the snow provides a cozy blanket and creates pockets of cool, moist turf underneath. When combined with soggy debris, like grass clippings and dead leaves, it makes the perfect breeding ground for the fungus to thrive. Snowdrifts can hide their breeding ground from sight and the fungus can keep on growing and expanding to infect large swathes of your yard, without you having a clue. During spring, as the snow melts, it reveals fuzzy white patches on your lawn. Make sure to keep your lawn neat and tidy in the fall to prevent the growth of snow mold in the winter. 

There are mainly two types of snow mold – pink and grey.

Grey snow mold is less damaging from the two. It affects grass stems but not the roots. Once you treat this mold, it does not grow back easily. On the other hand, the typhula blight tends to make underground structures (sclerotia) that can survive the summer. You will need to treat grey snow mold thoroughly to prevent its growth next year.

Pink snow mold (Fusarium patch) is highly dangerous for a lawn. This fungus affects the roots and blades of grass. It makes rings of barren, dead earth on your lawn. This fungal infection looks fuzzy with a distinct pinkish tint. This fungus grows in well-defined circles and does not need heavy snowfall to grow. Pink snow mold is commonly found in colder temperate regions and grows in cool, damp weather. 

How to get rid of Snow Mold?

According to gardening and lawn care experts at Eden, the best treatment for snow mold is prevention. However, it is not always possible to do so though snow mold dies off in the warm and dry summer air. Depending on the weather, snow molds can live for a week to a month after the snow melts. 

If you notice the symptoms of snow mold infection, it is recommended to carefully remove clumps of the matted grass. This will help to dry the mold quicker. Once it dries up, you may need to re-seed the lawn or sod your lawn once more. You will also need to plant fresh seed and spread fertilizer to give the new grass a boost to grow. 

Have patience as it may take some time for the lawn to recover its uniform lushness and greenery. You will also need to take precautions to prevent the snow mold from recurring next year.

Here are the most effective ways to prevent snow mold:

1. Plant resistant types of grass

Though no grass type is immune to mold, there are some species that are better at resisting the infection. For instance, tall fescue and fine-leaved fescue grasses are less vulnerable to fungal infection. Besides this, Delray perennial ryegrass and red and chewings fescue grasses are also moderately resistant to snow mold. 

On the other hand, bluegrass and bentgrass are most vulnerable to fungal infection and planting these will increase the risk of snow mold infection in your lawn. 

2. Remove organic debris

Layers of soggy dead leaves and grass clippings can create an ideal habitat for the growth of snow mold fungus. They only require a thick blanket of snow to thrive. Make sure to rake leaves and remove grass clippings before the first snowfall of the year. 

Lawn care experts at Eden also recommend you to de-thatch your lawn at least twice a year. When stolons and roots get thick in the yard, these provide an ideal environment for the fungus to grow. 

3. Mow your grass well

If the grass in the lawn is long enough to lay flat under the snow, it can create a thick mat filled with nooks and crannies which are ideal for snow mold growth. When you notice the grass turning yellow in preparation for the dormancy period in the fall, it is recommended to mow the grass up to 1.5 inches above soil. This way, you can prevent the turf from getting matted and create a thatch layer.

4. Let your lawn become dormant

When grasses are dormant in winter, they grow well. It the grass has not become dormant before the first blizzard, it becomes more vulnerable to snow mold. This is the reason that lawn care experts at Eden do not recommend fertilizing the lawn if you are expecting it to snow within six weeks. 

5. Avoid soggy lawn

Wet lawns create the ideal environment for fungal growth. Commonly, yards tend to need only 1 to 2 inches of water in a week, either from irrigation or rainfall. Watering it more than this can cause the lawn to be over-watered and soggy. This becomes more susceptible to fungal growth.

To prevent the lawn from getting soggy, you should ensure effective drainage across your yard or lawn. It you notice patches of still water in the yard then you may need a more sandy soil, sloping or grading, or alternate run-off solutions, such as dry creek beds. 

Conclusion

Snow mold is common but affects large parts of the US, especially the wet, cold regions of the north. You can prevent and get rid of snow mold by planting resistant grass types, removing organic debris from the lawn, keeping the grass mowed, allowing the grass to go dormant in winter and making sure the lawn is not soggy. To find more ways to get rid of snow mold, you can consult with professional lawn care service providers, such as Eden for the best treatment and prevention methods.