Why Are My Grass Blades Turning White
Taking care of their lawns is something most homeowners take seriously. From fertilizing to regularly mowing, they treat their yards like their homes and give them utmost care. So, imagine the horror of residential owners once they start noticing that the grass of their lush lawns begins to turn white!
While this could be a normal scenario during the colder months, it can be a real concern if it happens on a typical day. Before you start treating it, find out first what could be the reasons why your grass is suddenly turning white.
Why Are My Grass Blades Turning White
Is white grass dead? Fortunately, it isn’t! There could be many reasons why the grass is turning white, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s already dead. It can vary from plant diseases to deficiencies, or your lawn mower can also be the culprit. (Read Stihl Ms391 Upgrades Guide)
Here are some of the potential causes why the grass in your lawn is suddenly losing its color:
Powdery Mildew
What it looks like: White patches or dust-like white coverings on grass blades
This lawn fungal disease is the most common cause of why grasses suddenly begin to turn white. Powdery mildews appear as white patches or white powder on the grass that significantly reduce the overall appeal of your lawn. Sometimes, they also appear as white tips on grass. If your grass is growing under a shade, this is where powdery mildew most likely develops since they thrive in high humidity.
Snow Mold
What it looks like: White webbings on top of the grass
Snow molds tend to look like powdery mildews at first glance. But when you look closely, snow molds are more like webbings on top of the grass rather than dust-like coverings on the blades. They can also appear gray and usually appear as white spotty patches when the snow has melted.
Gray Leaf Spot
What it looks like: Round or oval spots that appear on grass blades
Caused by a fungus called Pyricularia grisea, gray leaf spots can infect and kill the grass blades in your lawn. While they are initially tan in color, they will become gray once exposed to high humidity and wet conditions such as overwatered lawns. The whitish spots are also usually accompanied by dark brown edges.
Phytium Blight
What it looks like: Cotton candy-like white fluff in infected areas
Phytium blights are most even during hotter seasons when the grass leaves are wet for at least 12 hours. They become more abundant when the infected grass is wet in the morning after a night of heavy pours.
Fusarium Patch and Fusarium Blight
What it looks like: Whitish or bleached appearance
The Fusarium Patch and Fusarium Blight are caused by fungal organisms appearing on grass once infected. Fusarium Blight often affects Kentucky bluegrass, which initially starts as grayish-green circles before it turns into a bleached patch of grass. They often thrive in dry, exposed conditions.
Meanwhile, Fusarium Patch most likely affects bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and creeping bentgrass. Once it has been infected, it can appear soggy before it becomes a bleached patch later on. Fusarium Patch often prefers cooler weather conditions.
Lawn Mower Damage
What it looks like: Whitish gray grass blades
Yes, your lawn mower may cause the white tips on the grass. This happens when you trimmed your grass shorter than usual, removing the grass blades. Once the blades have been removed, your grass cannot efficiently photosynthesize to make its energy. And if it fails, the grass blades will weaken, fade, and turn whitish gray.
Herbicide Side Effect
What it looks like: Bleached appearance
When you used an herbicide for your lawn, and it turns white overnight, then it’s most likely the cause. Some herbicides can be good for a lawn, such as those that get rid of weeds, but they can cause bleaching when not used right. (Read What Causes Small Round Holes In Lawn)
Fertilizer Burn
What it looks like: White stripes on grass blades
Fertilizer can be good, but too much of it can cause fertilizer burn to your grass. Hot weather that causes a lack of moisture in the soil can also cause this. So if you used fertilizer in your grass and there appear to be white stripes on the grass blades after applying, it’s most likely a fertilizer burn.
Iron Deficiency
What it looks like: Whitish, bleached spots
If you use alkaline soil on your lawn, it’s most likely prone to iron deficiency. Once it lacks iron, the grass on your lawn can turn into yellowish-white bleached spots that give grass blades a mottled appearance.
How To Fix White Grass
Once you have pointed out the cause of why the grass in your lawn is turning white, it’s time to take proper measures on how you can fix them.
Here are some ways you can follow:
Fungicide treatments
If the white in your grass is caused by powdery mildew, fungicide treatments eradicate them. These treatments often contain sulfur, neem oil, and triforine which are effective in this fungus. If you’re not a fan of fungicides, you can try using baking soda with mild horticultural oil as an alternative that is just as effective.
More sunlight
You can also control powdery mildews and Fusarium Patches when you increase the sunlight exposure on your lawn. Since both diseases thrive in shaded areas, providing more sunlight and better air movement would be the solution. You can remove shrubs or trim tree branches to reduce shade.
Better Mowing Practices
Try to incorporate better mowing practices to avoid cutting too much of your grass. The general rule when trimming grass is to never cut more than 1/3 of the current height of your grass blades. Leaving a little more means it can still photosynthesize and make food for itself. Mowing at proper height also reduces the chances for gray leaf spots.
Best Irrigation Practices
If you want to stay away from Phytium blight, you should follow the best irrigation practices, such as watering your grass early during the day so that it would have plenty of time to dry. If you have an extra budget, you can do an irrigation audit to ensure all lawn areas receive an appropriate amount of water.
Dethatching Lawn
Most of the time, dethatching your lawn solves most of the problems. They work best on white grasses caused by Fusarium patches, Fusarium blights, and even snow molds. All of these thrive in heavily thatched areas. When dethatching, you can use either a grass turf, a power rake, a hand rake, or a vertical mower, depending on what suits your yard best.
Take note, though, that power rakes aren’t recommended for grasses that spread via stolon since they can also cut the stolon once used. Meanwhile, using a vertical mower is highly recommended when you have St. Augustine grass on your lawn.
Modified Fertilizer Practices
Like in mowing, you should also adopt better fertilizer practices, especially if a fertilizer burn causes the whitening of your grass blades. Make sure you spread your fertilizer evenly across your lawn and not saturated in one area. This avoids build-up in a certain spot. Don’t forget to also water your lawn before and immediately after evenly applying your fertilizer so it will be absorbed deeply in the soil. Moreover, don’t apply fertilizer if your lawn is stressed due to drought or extreme heat. (Read Toro Recycler Vs Super Recycler)
Soil pH Alteration
If the whitening in your grass is caused by iron deficiency, you can apply iron products to solve it. It is best applied after core aeration, which exposes the soil and helps the roots uptake the iron.
If you suddenly encounter high pH levels in your soil, you can lower them by adding materials such as iron sulfate and elemental sulfur. Also, do not overwater cool soil, and do soil tests regularly to prevent such cases.
Key Takeaway
Seeing your beautiful green lawn lose its vibrancy can be a real nightmare for homeowners. What was once a beautiful sight to look at can turn into a pale area instantly with one wrong move. But as long as you have this guide, you will likely pinpoint what could be the cause of why your grass turned white.
The next time you encounter a change in your grass blades, immediately think of what could be triggering the sudden changes. It pays to be extra attentive to your lawn, especially if it took you years to achieve its healthy condition.
