Snow mold appears as matted down areas in your grass that is brown. It does not usually kill the grass. You can lightly rake the matted down areas to help get air to the roots. Core aeration would also help to get air circulation to the root area. To help prevent snow mold next year, your last grass cutting should be short. All leaves should be removed from the lawn before the first snow.

Red thread is a pink to red tip on your grass blade and it usually forms patches of dead areas.

Rust disease is when there is a rust color to your grass that gets onto your mower and shoes. It appears as yellow flecks on the grass blades which become orange and fuzzy. The whole lawn may have a yellow or reddish cast. Rust will not kill your grass. It will usually clear up if you maintain a watering and fertilizing schedule.

Dollar spot: Lawn may appear as a drought stressed with uneven growth with small 2 inch diameter bleached circular areas throughout the lawn.

Grubs feed on turfgrass roots. The grass will turn brown and die. Birds, skunks, and racoons will dig up the yard in search of grubs for food. Early September thru October grubs are active in yards.

Damage is usually first detected when irregular patches of turf begin to turn yellow then straw colored. The straw colored areas may be dead. These patches continue to become larger in spite of watering. June thru September are active in yards.