QuestionI have experienced rust in my lawn turf the last 2 years and not any of the previous 20. I fertilize 3-4 times a year with Scotts at the recommended rates with a Scotts broadcast spreader. I also have a boom sprayer that I use to treat broadleaf and any late season crab grass that intrudes. We have had a cool wet summer for my region (Southern Indiana).This stuff is everywhere. I mow approximately 2-3 times a week. Yard seems healthy and green. Except for the rust.... Help!!!
Answer "Rust" is a generic kind of name for a number of different fungi that attack plants and are often specific to plant species. You might want to rule out water(ing) as the source of the discoloration if you use well water. It can show up rather "suddenly" if the weather is dry, you are watering more often and the well itself may be drawing on water with a higher iron concentration. This is conjecture, of course, and the problem may indeed be a fungus condition. You should get it accurately identified and from there you can devise a control program. It can be as simple as watering at a different time or frequency. Then again, it may need an application of chemical. This has to be targeted at the identified fungus otherwise you may end up spending money in vain.
