Keep thatch below half an inch and mow at proper height to prevent disease

What to Do

Check your thatch layer annually and dethatch if it exceeds half an inch. Maintain mowing height at the upper end of the recommended range for your grass type. These two cultural practices form the foundation of disease prevention.

Why It Works

Thick thatch traps moisture at the soil surface, creating a humid microenvironment where fungi thrive. It also harbors insect pests and blocks air circulation. Proper mowing height keeps the grass healthy and competitive, enabling it to fight off infections naturally. University extension services consistently identify good cultural practices as more effective than fungicides for long-term disease management.

Tips

• Thatch-prone grasses: Kentucky bluegrass, bermuda, zoysia. Dethatch during their peak growth periods.
• Thatch-resistant grasses: tall fescue, perennial ryegrass. Rarely need dethatching.
• Combine with proper watering (morning, deep and infrequent) for maximum disease resistance.
• Most lawn diseases are symptoms of underlying cultural problems, not random infections.