Which practice helps prevent disease by providing appropriate fertility?

• A. Provide appropriate fertility
• B. Improve airflow and light availability
• C. Select appropriate turf species
• D. Mow very short

Answer: (A)

Providing appropriate fertility keeps the turf healthy and less prone to disease. When nutrients are balanced and available, grass tissues stay strong, roots grow well, and the plant can mount better defenses against pathogens. Deficiencies stress the plant and can make it more susceptible to disease, while over-fertilization—especially with nitrogen—can produce rapid, lush growth that pathogens love and that traps moisture, increasing disease risk. The best approach is to base fertilizer on soil tests and the plant’s needs, using balanced or slow-release forms to avoid spikes.

Other practices matter for disease prevention too—improving airflow and light reduces leaf wetness, selecting an appropriate turf species lowers inherent susceptibility, and mowing too short stresses the plant—yet they do not address disease risk through balanced fertility in the same direct way.