Rust Control: How To Get Rid of Rust

Rust is a fungal disease that occurs on turf grasses when their growth has been slowed. Don’t let the name fool you, Lawn Rust is not the same as rust that appears on metals but merely is a name that was given because of the color of the lawn fungus resembling that of metallic rust. This lawn disease usually makes its presence felt in the late summer or early fall, during periods of dry weather or when the grass is low on nitrogen. Rust can also occur when there is an excessive amount of moisture or dew present.

Fortunately, Lawn Rust is largely a cosmetic issue that doesn’t harm your grass. The orangish powder spores which characterize this fungus appear directly on grass blades and can easily come off on shoes, clothing, lawnmowers or anything that touches it. This mode of transportation allows for the fungi to spread to other areas if not treated.

While it is an eyesore, you shouldn’t leave Rust alone and just hope it goes away. Lawn Rust can weaken the strength of the grass and make it vulnerable to other diseases and turf problems. If you have noticed Rust on your lawn, our DIY treatment guide will show you how to eliminate it with professional fungicides.

Identification

Rust fungus is quite easy to identify on turf and can be diagnosed by simply pulling a couple of blades out of the turf. The blades will have orange-reddish to yellowish-brown dust or spores caked onto it. The lawn rust starts initially with the leaf blades turning yellow and gaining small yellowish spots which eventually turn orange, red or brownish in color. The spores can be rubbed off the grass blades with a finger.

Often, you will notice this rust on your shoes if you step on grass that has rust on it or on the blades of your mowing equipment after cutting the grass. All in all, patches of grass which are infected by rust disease will start to thin and become weaker compared to healthy unaffected grass

Rust lawn disease is caused by pustules and you can see the pustules when you look closely on the grass blades themselves and what happens is when you disturb them with your lawn equipment or step over them with your shoes, those pustules burst spores which get all over everything and then they’ll spread to the rest of the lawn as well as travel from lawn to lawn via commercial equipment.

Refer to the image above and our description to help you in identifying rust. If you are having trouble, you can contact us and we'll help you in correctly identifying your issue.

Inspection

Where to Inspect

There are a variety of plants that are vulnerable to suffering from rust fungus, from grasses to ornamentals to even evergreen plants. You can hardly miss Rust problems on grass due to the ample amount of space the turf covers.

The spores of rust usually form when there are cool nights with heavy dew and frequent rainfall. Warm, cloudy, wet conditions followed by a hot day with high heat from the sun beating down also help to formulate spores.

Basically, anytime the grass is not allowed to dry out after a period of 6 to 8 hours, Rust on grass begins to form. Grass rust problems also appear more frequently when thatch in lawns is too thick or mowing is not carried out frequently enough.

What To Look For

It looks like an orangish-brown powder that is caked onto grass blades and leaves. If you walk over your lawn, you usually will have the rust fungi come off onto your shoes.

Treatment

Prior to treatment, we suggest wearing the proper safety equipment for the job to prevent chemicals from coming in contact with your eyes or skin. Gloves, safety goggles and long-sleeved clothing should do. The best way to treat the rust on your lawn is by applying fungicide atop the areas where you see it developed. What that is going to do is stop the disease in its tracks and help to clear it up faster.

Our top recommendation for treating Rust is Patch Pro. Patch Pro contains propiconazole, which is a solid active ingredient that does a great job killing disease spores and pathogens. It is also cost-effective and easy to apply. 

Step 1 - Measure & Mix Patch Pro

Patch Pro is a systemic fungicide that is absorbed into the infected plant to attack the disease head on without harming the vegetation.

To determine how much Patch Pro you need, you will need to calculate the square footage of the target area. To do this, you will need to measure and multiply the length of your lawn times the width (length x width = square footage). Patch Pro is labeled to treat Rust at a rate of 1 to 2 fl. oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. For preventative control we recommend using 1 fl. oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. For curative control, use the 2 fl. oz. rate per 1,000 sq. ft.

For example, 2,500 square feet of yard to treat you would need to mix 5 fl. oz. of Patch Pro in 2.5 gallons of water. 

Step 2 - Apply Patch Pro To Affected Areas

Apply Patch Pro to infected areas spraying to wet (not to the point of runoff). The key is to focus on low lying areas of the yard that get a lot of shade as they are more susceptible to Rust. You will also want to make sure to spray other vegetation around the infected area to prevent spores from spreading.

Patch Pro is a systemic fungicide and will be absorbed into the plants giving it a 30-90 day residual. Apply once in the fall after grass becomes dormant or in the early spring before the grass starts to grow.

Use a fan nozzle setting so it creates a nice mist that will coat the Rust evenly. What’s most important when applying any fungicide you select is timing and attacking the disease in its early stages.  You may need to reapply the application after a period of 14 to 28 days to ensure the Rust is totally gone.

Prevention

Once the Rust is gone, you will have to work to keep it gone by giving your lawn some much-needed TLC. Mow your lawn at the proper height (around 3 to 4 inches), aerate your lawn occasionally to reduce soil compaction, rake your lawn to reduce thatch and reducing shade as much as possible can help to keep rust and other lawn diseases off of your turf.

You should also water your lawn properly at a rate of 1 to 1.5 inches of water every week, whether through rainfall or irrigation. Water your grass deeply once a week rather a little every day to encourage stronger roots. You should also fertilize your lawn to keep your soil nitrogen and potassium levels stable to better equip your turf to fight disease.

You can also use Patch Pro as a preventative application late in the summer before it usually appears. Make sure not to apply more than the maximum labeled rate of 16 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. per year.

Key Takeaways

• Rust is a lawn disease characterized by a brownish-red powdery substance that is caked onto grass blades and other plants.
• Our top recommended fungicide to control rust is Patch Pro. Timing is important when applying this product for best results.
• Once your lawn has been treated, keep rust from returning with a consistent lawn care and maintenance program and applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to keep your turf strong and healthy.