You may have heard about the grass-killing disease that is running rampant throughout Florida at the moment - lethal viral necrosis, or formerly, Sugarcane Mosaic Virus. While this isn't a new virus, experts say they have never seen a strain so virulent as the one seen over the past few months, affecting countless lawns and grassy areas throughout the State.
The virus presents by turning grass blades shades of yellow and brown, and if you open a blade of the affected grass, you will see a pattern similar to a mosaic with streaks or blotches of yellow and green running throughout the blade. While the disease will begin in a small section of grass, in time, the virus spreads, turning lawns entirely brown and transforming sod into dirt.
Symptoms of Sugarcane Mosaic Virus include leaf tissue turning necrotic which develop into severe dieback, completely killing lawns that are infected with this fatal virus. Dieback and necrosis usually start in the fall months (September to October) and progress through the spring months. Researchers are currently trying to determine several things when it comes to this virus - first is why the spread seems to be worse in the cooler months, and second, why this virus heavily targets Floratam St. Augustine sod - the type of grass used in over 80% of Florida lawns. One theory on why the virus is spreading throughout Florida is because it is being transferred to all areas of homeowner's lawns via mowers and other lawn machinery.
It's important for home and business owners to understand that pesticides and fungicides cannot help deter the spread or damage of this virus. Once the lawn is infected, there are no known agronomic practices that can be implemented to cure the grass. In order to deal with lawn death from the virus, homeowners are urged to replace sod with more resistant varieties such as Palmetto St. Augustine or Bitterblue. While these turfgrass species may also get the virus, they typically ward off the virus better than Floratam.
If your lawn is showing symptoms of sugarcane Mosaic virus, call Pride Fertilization and Pest Control immediately at 954-797-7907 so we can assess your property and confirm if you are in fact dealing with Sugarcane Mosaic Virus.
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