Mysterious orange powder on the lawn
What is this mysterious orange powder on my lawn and ornamental grasses?
**FULL QUESTION**
Dear *Gardening Life*,
For the past two years, my lawn has had a kind of orange powder on it, which gets on my shoes. Now I have noticed a few of my ornamental grasses have it as well. What is it and how do I stop it? I’m in Zone 5.
*—Lynne Jeffreys, Scarborough, ON*
**FULL ANSWER**
It sounds as though you have rust, which is a fungal disease. You have to be careful you don’t spread it around. The best cure is improving your lawn’s health: top-dress the lawn with compost and water deeply at least once a week (but don’t overwater). When you cut the grass, collect the clippings and throw them out so the fungus spores don’t infect other plants. Overseed with a seed mix containing a variety of grass species; they will help each other ward off rust and other diseases.
*—Marjorie Harris, Editor at Large*
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