When you picture your lawn at its peak of health, you think about the grass being warm, vibrantly green and soft to the touch. What we do not often picture are rough, bare spots or unsightly discoloration due to lawn disease.

As we settle into the winter months here in Georgia, our lawns and gardens begin their transition into the dormant phase. The silver lining? The much-welcomed break from weekly lawn mowing and maintenance. But there is another opportunity homeowners should be taking advantage of during this dormant season — it is the perfect time to harness the power of horticultural oils.

While it really is starting to feel like fall is finally here, most Georgians are still going to be experiencing very warm afternoons. So as you notice the leaves change colors and begin to fall off of their trees, it's important to pay attention to other changes that might be going on in your yard. Just because the mosquitoes aren't buzzing around as much this time of year does not mean your lawn is without pests, or the effects of their presence. 

When you think of your routine lawn care, what comes to mind first? Maybe you think of weekly mowing, or maybe even occasionally spreading fertilizer. While those are great ways to encourage healthy a healthy lawn, one of the often-overlooked aspects of your lawn's health is soil compaction. 

It's that time of year where Georgians can enjoy mornings with frosty temperatures, and by mid-afternoon begin to see temperatures in the 60s and 70s. With today being the first official day of Spring, there is no better time to begin preparing your lawn to flourish once the growing season begins! 

Here in Georgia, the weather can be, at times, unpredictable to say the least. Just before we rang in the new year, areas of Metro Atlanta and North Georgia were seeing temperatures in the low teens, with wind chill making it feel even colder. 

One of the most frustrating things to see in your lawn is a bare spot. Patchy areas where the grass just doesn't seem to grow can happen for a couple of reasons, and fixing them isn't nearly as difficult as you may think. 

When you picture your perfect Spring and Summer lawn you might think of freshly-cut, green grass, absolutely free of dead spots. One of the most common diseases that spoil your spring lawn is Spring Dead Spot (SDS), and taking action starts earlier in the year than you might think. 

High humidity and daily temperatures over 80⁰ make your lawn vulnerable to what is known as Brown Patch, known for its spotty, ring-shaped brown spots it can leave on your grass. This lawn disease is caused by fungal growth and can leave your lawn looking less than stellar.

Every lawn in Georgia, new or established, is susceptible to a variety of disease. Promoting healthy growth is the best way to prevent a severe disease outbreak. Most common lawn diseases can be avoided by optimizing mowing and watering practices. Stressed grass is much more susceptible to disease than healthy grass.

Every lawn in Georgia, whether new or established, is susceptible to a variety of lawn diseases because of our environmental conditions. Even if a disease-causing pathogen is present, infection will not occur unless the environmental conditions are conducive to disease development. If left untreated, your lawn is likely to undergo major damage that could take months to recover from.