Seeing dead-looking patches in turf areas? Don’t panic - turf is resilient.
As the snow melts across New England this spring, many turf managers and homeowners are noticing patches of turf that look brown, matted, or even dead. After months of winter, these spots can be alarming at first glance. However, before assuming the worst, it’s important to remember that turfgrass is remarkably resilient, and what you are seeing is often a normal aftermath of the winter we just experienced.
The 2025–2026 winter in New England brought multiple snowstorms, long periods of snow cover, and occasional waves of Arctic cold. During mid-winter, snow accumulated and remained on the ground for extended periods. While snow can insulate turf from extreme cold, prolonged snow cover also creates ideal conditions for snow mold diseases on cool-season turfgrasses. Under a blanket of snow, temperatures hover near freezing while moisture remains high—exactly the environment snow mold pathogens need to infect turfgrass leaves and crowns.
Now, as temperatures rise and the snowpack melts quickly—especially in the southern parts of the region—the symptoms are becoming visible. Many areas show flattened turf with gray or pink circular patches, a classic sign of snow mold activity. Although the turf may look severely damaged, the good news is that in most cases the injury is mainly confined to the foliage. Once soils warm and turfgrass begins active growth, recovery usually occurs naturally.
There are a few simple steps that can help speed up the recovery process. Lightly raking matted areas can help improve air circulation and allow the turf canopy to dry more quickly. Good drainage is also important—moving excess meltwater away from sensitive turf areas reduces prolonged moisture that can slow recovery. In some cases, a light application of fertilizer or overseeding may help restore density in more severely affected spots.
For golf course putting greens and other highly managed turf areas, gently removing lingering snow can help shorten the duration of surface moisture. At this stage of the season, gray snow mold is typically no longer active, but pink snow mold can remain active under cool and wet conditions. If extended periods of cool, moist weather are expected and concerns remain high, applying a fungicide labeled for pink snow mold may be considered as a precaution.
Despite the unsightly patches that often appear during snowmelt, most turf stands will recover as temperatures rise and growth resumes. Spring often tells a reassuring story: what looked dead in early March frequently greens up again within a few weeks. With a little patience and basic turf care, the lawn or playing surface usually returns to normal—proving once again that turfgrass is tougher than it looks.
Submitted by: Dr. Geunhwa Jung