From leaf spot and rust, to brown patch and fairy rings, lawn diseases and lawn care challenges exist for Long Island, NY homeowners. If you’ve dealt with lawn care issues like these in the past, you know they can wreak havoc in your lawn. But there is a way to ensure your turf is able to fight off an attack and the ensuing damage. At Lawn Doctor of Long Island, we know all it requires is the right lawn care and maintenance. Here are some lawn care tips for preventing lawn diseases:
Plant disease-resistant grass. Some grass types do better in certain climates and are more naturally resistant to diseases as a result. In New York, which is in the cool humid zone that encompasses the Northeast, cool-season grasses such as fescue, ryegrass, Bluegrass, and bentgrass are your best options.
Only water in the early morning. Moisture makes your grass more susceptible to disease. 
This is especially true if your lawn stays wet overnight. That’s why you should never water in the evening, or keep your sprinkler on overnight. When you water deeply – once a week for an hour – in the early morning, your lawn will get proper hydration without risking infection.
Test your soil. If your soil is unbalanced or unhealthy in some way, grass roots and blades can’t develop properly and withstand diseases. To ensure your soil has the correct pH level without any deficiencies, have it tested by our lawn care experts. Then you’ll know precisely what you need to deliver in your soil to keep it balanced and less susceptible to diseases.
Fertilize your lawn. If you want the healthiest lawn possible, you need to give it the right nutrients so it’s less vulnerable to diseases. That means fertilizing on a regular basis, just not too often, which can actually damage your lawn and promote certain kinds of diseases. Your fertilization plan will depend on the condition of your lawn, grass types in it, and growing and climate factors.
De-thatch and aerate your lawn. Both thatch build-up and soil compaction can cause lawn disease. So, if you’re noticing a heavy build-up of surface thatch on your lawn, get a de-thatching rake to break it up. If, however, you’re dealing with heavy thatch and soil compaction, then aerate your lawn instead. This process removes small plugs of soil in your lawn, breaking up thatch and compaction so roots can better access nutrients, oxygen, and water.
Use our new Hydra Guard program. Starting in 2018, Lawn Doctor of Long Island will offer our newest program, Hydra Guard. Lawn Doctor of Long Island is at the forefront of the lawn care industry by offering the new Hydra Guard program. This is one of the first programs of it’s type on Long Island, and is outstanding at reducing negative effects from disease, drought, irrigation and bent grass.
Hydra Guard is an all natural solution to problems that normally present themselves during the season’s hottest months of July and August. Hydra Guard is a moisture management program that maintains moisture from irrigation and rainfall allowing your lawn’s roots to absorb substantially more water. Hydra Guard also “unlocks” moisture from micro and macro nutrients naturally present in the soil, which is critical on non irrigated and under irrigated lawns. This increased moisture level substantially improves color, drought resistance, and improves the laws natural defenses which significantly helps reduce damage from disease.
Lawn Care Guarantee from Lawn Doctor of Long Island
A healthy, thick lawn is the best natural defense against diseases spreading. However, if you don’t have the time or expertise to follow the lawn care tips above, Lawn Doctor of Long Island can help. We provide a wide range of services that can ensure your lawn is meticulously cared for and maintained, so it’s healthy and strong, year-round. We even back every service with the best guarantee in the business.
For your free consultation, call Lawn Doctor of Long Island today at 516.586.5528. Our lawn care services are available in Long Island, NY, as well as in Massapequa, Farmingdale, Bay Shore, Hicksville, Plainview, and in the surrounding communities.
