Florida has endless allure in its tropical charm. But, the many joys of living in the Sunshine State come at a cost—the storms are fiercer, the bugs are bigger, and the hot, wet, and humid climate presents some definite challenges for homeowners, especially when it comes to lawn care. Fungus thrives under those steamy conditions and has become a severe problem throughout the state. If your grass was once lush and green but now has patches of discoloration and poor growth, you may have a fungus issue. While unwanted mushroom growth can indeed be a problem, particularly if the ones popping up in your yard are toxic, the most common fungi plaguing lawns in Florida are more of the mold-and-disease variety. Let’s take a look at some of the top culprits:

Brown Patch Fungus - It attacks the leaf base closest to the soil, creating yellow-to-brown patches that start as small spots and get bigger—spreading from about a foot in diameter up to several feet. It has also been known to form rings, leaving a center section of grass that looks healthy, surrounded by a circle of dead leaves.

Dollar Spot Fungus – This looks and is sized like a silver dollar, much like its name implies. The spots will grow larger and appear like a milky, cobwebby residue. You may notice small white lesions on individual grass blades surrounded by a brown border. This fungal disease strikes down to the root, often with devastating results as it produces a toxin that thickens the grass root and causes it to stop growing.

Rust Fungus – If you’ve noticed an orangey-looking powder on your lawn, it is likely this. Rust fungus thrives in shady areas and excessively wet conditions. It causes thinning, yellowing, stunted growth, and plant deformities (and can spread to your trees and other vegetation). People who overwater, have poor drainage or have soggy patches of standing water on their lawn frequently have a problem with this one.

Gray Leaf Spot – This can leave your lawn looking scorched. Many homeowners mistake it for heat or drought stress, particularly when it has progressed to large, dried-out patches of dead yellow grass. However, this fungal infection starts as a small brown spot on the blade that eventually elongates and becomes more grayish in appearance.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your lawn and suspect a fungi problem, your best option is to seek professional help. Only a pro will have the expertise, tools, and commercial-grade products needed to effectively identify and tackle the problem. Descriptions aside, many types of fungi look deceptively similar but require vastly different treatments to deal with them successfully. Not only that, but the issue could end up being something other than fungi, such as a pest.



If you reside in Lehigh Acres or the surrounding area, you can rely on the fast, friendly, and affordable services of Walter Salazar Pest Control, LLC. Whether you’ve got unwanted mushroom growth or other fungal problems wreaking havoc with your lawn and outdoor spaces, we can help. In addition to the pest control solutions we provide, we also offer comprehensive lawn care services—and we are experts at fungus control.