Smut Control: How To Get Rid of Smut

This page is a general Smut control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of the turfgrass disease known as Smut. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of Smut.

Smut is a type of fungal disease that affects turfgrass and is characterized by dark or black spores on your plants. There are a number of different types of smut diseases and they can affect a variety of plants: from turfgrasses to sugar cane and even crops like maize, barley, and wheat. Some of the more common smut diseases are stripe smut, black smut, and flag smut.

No matter the type of Smut, these fungal diseases are frustrating to deal with and seem to spring up out of nowhere before disappearing mysteriously. Owners who have a lawn that is affected by this fungus growth may not notice it at first, making it a very subtle fungus that can go undetected for long periods of time. Smut-infected turf usually becomes obvious three or four years after initial infections occur.

If your lawn has been affected by smut disease, this guide can help. Follow our DIY smut treatment guide below which has been compiled by our lawn care experts. The guide will show you exactly how to get rid of Smut in a quick and cost-effective way.

Identification

Before you can proceed with a treatment plan for Smut disease, you need to be sure that is the disease that is showing up on your plants. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods, which will be a waste of your time and money. You can identify what smut looks like via the following characteristics and facts:

• When Smut infects a landscape, it usually starts with the grass appearing chlorotic or yellowing during the spring season, but then taking on a brown color in summer.
• This darkened color of the affected plants is the result of millions of brownish-black spores which are created inside of infected plant tissues and become exposed as the fungal process rips through leaves.
• Smut spores are dispersed via wind, water splashing, and foot traffic, but they do not infect turf directly. Rather, the spores represent the survival stage of the pathogen.
• The smut spores (called teliospores) germinate when the turf is wet and temperatures range between 50° and 60°F, often in spring, but sometimes in fall.

Use the description and image above to help you identify smut on your lawn. If you are not totally sure if you have smut, contact us and we will help you properly ID the problem and suggest a treatment option.

Inspection

After you have properly identified Smut on your lawn, you should then proceed with an inspection. During this phase, you will locate the areas where Smut is appearing as well as identify the conducive conditions of the area that is helping Smut to thrive.

Where to Inspect

Walk through your lawn to check for Smut and determine the severity level prior to chemical treatment. Unless there is a significant area where the smut has taken over, inspecting your lawn for the presence of smut may be difficult since you won't be able to see any issue from afar. However, by examining the grass blades closely, you will be able to see the infection.

What To Look For

Examine your lawn for areas where there is discoloration of your grass blades. Smut is usually dark brown to black in color.

Treatment

Our go-to product for treating Smut disease on your lawn and ornamentals 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.

Before using any pesticides, make sure you have on 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 are a must.

Step 1 - Measure and Mix Patch Pro

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 Smut at a rate of 1 to 2 fl. oz. per gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft. For example, 2,500 square feet of yard to treat you would need to mix 2.5 to 5 fl. oz. of Patch Pro in 2.5 gallons of water.

Fill your sprayer up halfway with water and then add the appropriate amount of Patch Pro based on your calculations. Fill the sprayer the rest of the way with water and then close the sprayer lid and agitate until well mixed. You are now ready to spray the Smut.

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 Smut. 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 grass starts to grow.

Prevention

Once the Smut has been removed from your lawn, keep it from coming back by implementing good regular lawn care maintenance.

• Proper and consistent mowing practices will also reduce the presence of smut, particularly on loose Smut that affects the inflorescence.
• Water the lawn with 1.5 to 2 inches of water once a week. This will result in a healthy and vigorous lawn is less likely to get the disease.
• You can apply Patch Pro preventatively as needed every 28 days or so to protect vulnerable plants.

Key Takeaways

What is Smut?

• Smut is a fungal disease characterized by spores that can weaken turf and eventually kill it off if there is no intervention.

How To Get Rid of Smut From Your Lawn

• Our top recommended fungicide to control smut is Patch Pro. Timing is important when applying this product for best results.

Preventing Smut Reinvasion

• Once your lawn has been treated, keep Smut from making a comeback with a consistent lawn care and maintenance program (mowing, fertilizer, watering, etc.)