With the warm dry weather slowing growth of most turf areas, rust is becoming common on many non-irrigated turf areas. Rust symptoms are reddish-orange lesions or spots on the leaf blades and a rust-colored powder that you can rub off with your fingers. Rust will rarely kill a turf area further then a lawn already damaged by this year’s weather, but it can thin a turf stand especially this year when it will probably stay active well into October. Rust is most common on slow-growing, under-fertilized lawns. Even though a wide variety of fungicides will control rust, the best method to minimize this disease is to fertilize and now is the best time to fertilize. See the September Turf Tip at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/2007/09_13Sept_fert.htm for more information on fertilizing and reducing rust problems. Be sure to water in the fertilizer regardless of your application date.
