Due to mild winter weather conditions the disease called RUST is active on lawns. This disease has been noted on Kentucky bluegrass at the OSU Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Research & Educational Facility for over a week. In most “normal” years this foliar blighting disease does not start showing up until late July, August or the autumn. Hard winters kill the spores of this fungal disease. The pathogen is reintroduced into our area by spores being carried on the jet stream from the southern part of the USA where it over winters in the milder climates. Since rust is developing so early and due to drought stressed turf this may be a year where rust is active over a long period and could be severe. Under normal conditions this disease does not kill turf. But what has been normal so far this year?
View the updated rust factsheet for more information