Dollar Spot Fungus: Everything You Need to Know

The only kind of fungus you should have in your life is in the form of mushrooms on your pizza or omelets. Unfortunately, fungus can also find its way into your lawn in the form of dollar spot fungus. This miserable mycelium can appear in nearly any type of turfgrass if the conditions are right and slowly take over your lawn.

If you’ve got this fugitive fungus in your lawn, it’s time to learn what causes dollar spot fungus and, most importantly, how to get rid of it for good.

What Is Dollar Spot Fungus?

Dollar spot fungus is a fungal disease caused by Clarireedia jacksonii. Its name comes from the distinctive circular patches that it creates in grass that can look like a silver dollar. It spreads through mycelia, a network of fine white filaments that the fungus creates. This mycelia can be spread by shoes, lawnmowers, or even water.

Though dollar spot lawn disease rarely kills grass, that’s not a reason to celebrate. It can impact the overall look and health of your grass, harming your property’s curb appeal and even its value. More importantly, dollar spot fungus usually signifies an underlying problem with the health of your lawn that you’ll need to address if you want a disease-free yard.

What Causes Dollar Spot Fungus?

Dollar spot fungus thrives when certain conditions are just right. The primary ingredient, however, is a weak and unhealthy lawn. This lawn disease only takes hold when your turfgrass is too weak to fight back. Other conditions that favor dollar spot lawn disease include:

• Moisture: Extended periods of humidity and wetness, especially overnight, are ideal for fungal growth.
• Temperature: Dollar spot does best with warm days and cool nights.
• Poor air circulation: Dense turf retains moisture, which invites in dollar spots.
• Thatch buildup: Too much thatch also tends to hold onto moisture.
• Poor drainage: Excess water on grass blades or in the soil creates a suitable environment for dollar spots.

How to Identify Dollar Spot Lawn Disease

You can identify dollar spot fungus in your lawn by looking for small, round spots in your grass. They may start out small but will gradually grow up to three inches in diameter. The spots can be straw-colored, bleached, or brown and rusty. As the disease progresses, the individual spots can merge into larger irregular shapes.

You may also notice what appear to be cobwebs covering your grass blades. These are actually the mycelium of the fungus.

In truth, dollar spot fungus can often look like other fungal lawn diseases. The good news is that many of the treatment options for fungal infections are the same.

How to Treat Dollar Spot Fungus

To treat dollar spot fungus, you’ll need to implement a two-pronged approach. Step one is to get rid of the current fungus. The best immediate lawn fungus treatment is fungicide. Head to your local home improvement store or lawn care store and look for a fungicide that specifically treats dollar spot fungus. (You can also purchase fungicides online.)

Some of the best options are chlorothalonil fungicides or propiconazole fungicides. Follow the instructions on the product carefully. The earlier you catch the disease and put down fungicide, the better results you’ll get.

Now, let’s look at the second prong of your lawn fungus treatment.

How to Get Rid of Dollar Spot Fungus and Prevent It from Returning

Getting rid of the immediate dollar spot fungus in your lawn is only half the battle. The mere presence of the fungus suggests your lawn is begging for help. Unless you fix the underlying problem, lawn diseases, including dollar spot fungus, will likely keep returning.

The second way to perform dollar spot fungus treatment is to take good care of your lawn:

• Fertilize your grass annually (or more often if needed).
• Aerate and dethatch your lawn to improve airflow and drainage.
• Water your lawn more deeply and less frequently to keep soil moisture lower while also encouraging deeper root growth and hardier grass. We also recommend watering in the morning so your soil has more time to absorb the moisture before nightfall. If you have bare or thin patches of lawn, overseed or put in sod.
• Address water drainage problems on your property, or you’ll be at risk for fungal diseases no matter what you do. That could mean putting in a French drain, re-grading your property, or some other option.

Keep Your Lawn Healthy and Free from Fungus

In most cases, the appearance of dollar spot fungus isn’t just a run of bad luck. It means your lawn is not healthy enough to resist the fungus. If you want to get rid of dollar spot lawn disease for good, you’ll need to give your lawn some serious TLC. Don’t have the time, the desire, or the know-how?

That’s where we can help. The Grounds Guys® offers a range of commercial and residential landscaping services, including pest and disease control assistance. Our local team can assess your lawn, take care of dollar spot fungus, and rehab your lawn so that it can resist future diseases.

Request a free estimate today.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your home and property. The Grounds Guys are not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of this blog content or your actions. For the most accurate guidance, contact The Grounds Guys location nearest you for a comprehensive, on-site assessment.