Q: Hi Chris, last year I lost some grass to a disease called pythium. What causes this, and what can I do to prevent it this season?

A: Ooh, that's not a letter I like to receive. Pythium is the one disease that causes turf managers to shiver with fear, and to keep their resumes up to date should their sports field or golf course get hit with a bad case of it. So what happens when you get pythium? Basically, you're screwed.

Pythium is also luckily relatively rare in home lawns, but when it strikes, watch out! No, literally, ³watch out² your window as the grass simply folds up and turns into a slimy brown mess that resembles straw soaked in wet cotton candy. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this disease moves fast. Unfortunately, the scenario usually unfolds like this;

"Hey there Bob, whatcha do..., holy Moses, what's that brown slop that used to be your lawn in that patch there?"

"Well, I'm looking at this here book on Turfgrass Diseases Biff, and let me tell you, I'm thinking this is Pythium."

"Can you stop it from getting worse?"

"Well, apparently, there are certain fungicides that can get it under control and keep it from spreading. So, this afternoon after Belinda's dance recital, I'm stopping by Gary's Lawn & Garden shop to pick some up. I'll spray it out tomorrow morning."

Biff nods in mock understanding, then takes a look at Bob's book. "Hey, wait a second Bob, it says here that Pythium can spread like lightening under hot, wet, humid conditions. It¹s 103 degrees and drizzling. Shouldn't you move a bit quicker?"

They both share a hearty laugh. Bob gives Biff a light punch on the shoulder. Biff grimaces but acts tough.

"C'mon Biff, how fast could this spread in just a day?"

Later That Same Day

As Bob drives back toward his house, he approaches a desolate landscape that once was his front lawn. Biff is crying on his front stoop, as his lawn too has been victimized. A tumbleweed rolls past.

"Biff, what happened? I was only gone a few hours" Bob says as he falls to his knees when his legs give out dramatically. Biff is too choked up to reply. They hug.

So, how exactly DO you deal with something as quick and devastating as Pythium? Well, you simply try to prevent it by not creating the ideal circumstances for the fungus to spread. We know it loves high levels of fertilizer, heat, humidity, and plenty of water. Unfortunately, you can¹t really control the temperature, humidity, or rain. You can control the amount of fertilizer and additional water you add.

As you bear through the stifling Summer weather, DO NOT try to attain lush green perfection by dumping a heavy dose of fertilizer on the lawn and turning it into the neighborhood water park. You¹ll only end up a quivering shell of your old self as you wonder ³WHY!?² Instead, only water when it¹s truly needed (after a week or so of drought) and let the lawn go a little hungry through those months. When things begin to cool off in September, you can then give the lawn a good dose of fertilizer and water to spruce it up again. Until then, watch out for rogue tumbleweeds.