Question
I have an orange/brown dust on my choice after walking through my grass.  I Live in South Central PA.  The grass is drying from lack of rain.  I don't believe that this is dust from the ground.  What is it and what do I do about it?

Answer
North Dakota State University's Dept of Agriculture describes symptoms of the Puccinia Fungus, known as 'Rust', on Lawngrasses.  Rust, they write, 'becomes severe on susceptible varieties during hot periods of the Summer when Grass growth is reduced.'

Here's the URL:

www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/pp950w.htm

How's your weather been, Jeff, in Pennsylvania?

In a BAD case of Rust, note the NDSU pundits, 'The Lawn may have a Yellowish to Reddish-Orange appearance.  A Red-Orange dust fills the air when the Grass is mowed and also collects on shoes and clothing.'

Sound familiar, my friend?

Best weather for this Fungus is VERY humid, keeping the Fungal spores-triggering dew on Grass blades from evaporating quickly; night temps stay high, in the low to mid-70s; day temps hit 85 to 95 degrees F.  Add an occasional drink from a garden hose and you have a full fledged Rust epidemic on your Lawn.

Rust is REALLY bad on Merion and Touchdown Bluegrasses, considered VERY prone to this problem.  Low mowing and shade make it worse.

What's a homeowner to do?

Well, don't take this personally, sir, but healthy Grass rarely comes down with Rust.

Treatment consists of a healthy dose of ORGANIC Nitrogen fertilizer, and correcting your watering techniques, which is easy because that simply means you should water your Grass once a week, very long and very deep.  DO NOT USE A FUNGICIDE.  You will only make it worse.

A slow-release fertilizer, such as Milorganite or (very smelly) Fish Emulsion, will cure this Rust attack.  Mow high, to the extent you do any mowing.  If you have access to Manure, top-dress with CURED, AGED Manure asap; it's a terrific Soil amendment.  And if there's anything your Grass needs, it's better Soil to grow in.

Any questions?

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER