- What causes snow mold?<\/a><\/li>
- What snow mold looks like<\/a><\/li>
- How to treat snow mold in Colorado<\/a><\/li>
- Snow mold prevention tips for Colorado<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ about snow mold<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
What causes snow mold?<\/span><\/h2>
Snow mold is a fungal disease that plagues many lawns across Colorado during the winter months. Sadly, certain grasses common in Colorado, like Kentucky bluegrass<\/a>, are susceptible to snow mold.<\/p>
It is characterized by gray or pink patches on the grass, and it thrives in cold, wet conditions, particularly when there is prolonged snow cover. These fungi love the dark, damp environment under the snow, where they can grow and spread. <\/p>
Gray snow mold<\/a>, also known as Typhula blight, and pink snow mold<\/strong>, known as Microdochium patch, are the two main types that homeowners may encounter in the Centennial State.<\/p>
What snow mold looks like<\/span><\/h2>
![\"snow](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/5359689-LGPT.jpg\")
William M. Brown Jr<\/a>. | Bugwood.org <\/figcaption><\/figure> Snow mold manifests as bleached circular patches on lawns, typically appearing after the snow melts away in the spring. Here are the key snow mold symptoms to help identify the two most common types of snow mold:<\/p>
Gray snow mold<\/strong><\/p>
- Circular patches of light yellow, straw, or brown-colored turf, typically ranging from 6 to 12 inches in diameter.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Grass blades within the affected areas may appear matted down and covered with gray or white webbing, known as mycelium.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Reddish-brown, rounded fungal structures called sclerotia may be present in the grass blades.<\/li> <\/ul>
Pink snow mold<\/strong><\/p>
![\"Pink](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/pink-snow-mold_800.jpg\")
Pink snow mold
Bevegelsesmengde<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>- Circular patches initially display an orange-brown hue, which transitions to dark reddish-brown, and finally light gray or tan as the disease progresses.<\/li> <\/ul>
- A faint growth of light pink mycelium may be visible at the edges of the patch, particularly noticeable in the early hours of the day.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Under prolonged periods of wetness, pink spores may become visible within the affected areas.<\/li> <\/ul>
How to treat snow mold in Colorado<\/span><\/h2>
![\"gray](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gray-snow-mold.jpg\")
Kris Lord<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Once the temperatures consistently exceed 45 degrees Fahrenheit or the turf begins to dry out, snow mold activity typically ceases. However, the affected turf may take longer to fully recover afterward. Here are some things you can do to treat snow mold in Colorado:<\/p>
- Rake the patches: <\/strong>Lightly raking your grass will help break up the crust and allow the turf to dry out, which will help treat snow mold.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Apply fertilizer lightly:<\/strong> Consider applying fertilizer, particularly in early spring, especially if you did not fertilize in the fall. This can help promote new growth and combat snow mold. Check out our guide to know when to fertilize your Colorado lawn<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Aerate and overseed:<\/strong> If the lawn is slow to recover, aerating and overseeding at the right time for Colorado<\/a> can help rejuvenate the affected areas.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Apply fertilizer lightly:<\/strong> Consider applying fertilizer, particularly in early spring, especially if you did not fertilize in the fall. This can help promote new growth and combat snow mold. Check out our guide to know when to fertilize your Colorado lawn<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Rake the patches: <\/strong>Lightly raking your grass will help break up the crust and allow the turf to dry out, which will help treat snow mold.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Under prolonged periods of wetness, pink spores may become visible within the affected areas.<\/li> <\/ul>
- A faint growth of light pink mycelium may be visible at the edges of the patch, particularly noticeable in the early hours of the day.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Circular patches initially display an orange-brown hue, which transitions to dark reddish-brown, and finally light gray or tan as the disease progresses.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Reddish-brown, rounded fungal structures called sclerotia may be present in the grass blades.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Grass blades within the affected areas may appear matted down and covered with gray or white webbing, known as mycelium.<\/li> <\/ul>
- What snow mold looks like<\/a><\/li>