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With snow melt snow mold diseases could become more apparent. Microdochium patch (pathogen: Microdochium nivale) is a common disease on homelawns in many areas of the northern United States. The disease also known as pink snow mold where snow cover is present, and as fusarium patch in the absence of snow cover attacks both short cut turf like annual bluegrass and higher cut Kentucky bluegrass turf. Microdochium patch is active under cool wet conditions. Temperatures in the range of 32 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for this pathogen to infect along with prolonged periods of wetness or snow cover.
Microdochium patch initially appears as small patches that commonly increase in size reaching 12 inches in diameter. Leaves become water soaked, turn reddish-brown, then bleach. Pink mycelia may be visible in early morning. In cool wet weather, the leaves are matted together, which is especially true on high cut turf, and covered with a whitish pink mycelial growth that is slimy when wet. The circular patches may exhibit a pink coloration when exposed to light.
