Pink snow mold in July

We think of pink snow mold (Microdochium patch) as a winter disease. But in mid–July, superintendents in the upper mid–West have been reporting problems with this disease. So, what gives?

The answer is that the fungus Microdochium nivale can attack plants any time that the weather conditions are right, primarily when the threat temperature is less than 62°F (17°C). As you can see in the threat temperature graph for Harbor Springs, Michigan, June and July of 2009 were unusually cool,…