Home » Blog » Snow Mold: What Happened to Your Lawn This Winter? Snow Mold: What Happened to Your Lawn This Winter? March 18, 2026 Disease, Education, Fertilizer, Grass Seed, Lawn, Seasonal, Spring, Timely Tips, Turfgrass, Winter As the snow melts across the Rochester area each spring, many homeowners start to notice unsightly patches popping up across their lawns. If your yard is looking a little rough right now—you’re not alone. This past winter brought extended periods of snow cover along with fluctuating temperatures, creating the perfect storm for a common turf disease known as snow mold. Snow mold is a cold-weather fungal disease that develops under snow cover or during prolonged cool, wet conditions. When temperatures hover between 32–45°F and moisture gets trapped beneath the snow, your lawn is essentially tucked in under a damp blanket—exactly what fungi love. Types of Snow Mold in Our Area Around Rochester, we typically see two types: Gray Snow MoldThe more common and less severe type. It mainly affects the grass blades and usually recovers on its own once the lawn starts actively growing. Pink Snow MoldA bit more aggressive. This type can damage the crown and roots of the turf, which may require some repair or overseeding. Both thrive in cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescues—which just so happen to make up most of our lawns here in Western New York. What Snow Mold Looks Like Snow mold shows up right after the snow melts. Keep an eye out for: Circular patches of straw-colored or bleached grass Matted, crusty turf Gray/white webbing (gray mold) or pinkish tones (pink mold) Patch sizes ranging from a few inches to several feet You’ll usually notice it most where snow lingered the longest—along driveways, sidewalks, and shaded areas. How It Forms Snow mold develops when moisture gets trapped under snow cover—especially if: Snow falls before the ground fully freezes Grass is left too long heading into winter Leaves or debris are sitting on the lawn Snow piles stick around for extended periods With the kind of winter we had this year, conditions were just right for snow mold to settle in. Fall Prevention Tips (Set Yourself Up for Success) The best way to deal with snow mold? Get ahead of it before winter hits. Give your lawn a final mow at about 2–2.5 inches Clean up leaves and debris (don’t skip this one!) Avoid heavy late-season nitrogen applications Core aerate to reduce thatch and improve drainage Try not to pile snow in the same spot all winter A little prep in the fall goes a long way toward a cleaner, healthier lawn in the spring. What To Do If You Have Snow Mold Here’s the good news—most snow mold damage is cosmetic, and your lawn will bounce back with a little time and care. To help speed things up: Lightly rake affected areas to loosen matted grass and improve airflow Allow sunlight and warmer temperatures to dry the lawn Once the ground has thawed, apply Van Putte 15Plus Fertilizer to encourage the lawn to “outgrow” the disease and help fill in bare spots Overseed bare areas if they don’t recover, especially with pink snow mold Resume normal spring lawn care as growth begins When You Need a Little Extra Help If your lawn sees recurring issues or more severe outbreaks, a fungicide can help protect your turf. At Van Putte Gardens, we carry Bonide Infuse Systemic Disease Control in both granular and liquid forms. It’s designed to protect lawns and ornamentals from a range of fungal diseases and can be used as part of a preventative program. We’ve Got You Covered With a little patience (and maybe a little help from us), most Rochester lawns will green back up as temperatures rise and the growing season gets underway. Not sure what you’re seeing out there? Snap a pic and stop in—our team is here to help get your lawn back on track.