Thanks.

There are several things going on here and from what I can surmise, it all starts with the soil. Although I'm not 100% certain, from the looks of this "growth", I'd say you have a white soil mold living in your dirt. There are many kinds which can thrive when soil has good moisture and the right nutritional supply. Most of these won't hurt plants directly. However, the conditions that allow them to grow will. In other words, if you aren't careful and correct the current situation, I'm sure other things will start to go "wrong" and over time it will become more and more difficult to fix. With this problem potential problem just "over the horizon" and about to come into view, here are my recommendations.

1) Not knowing where you reside in Arizona, I cannot tell if you are in a mostly dry arid section or one that gets significant rainfall. Arid sections would tend to dry out over time so there would be no cause for concern. Once dry, this fungus will die out. But if you are where it rains enough, this problem could persist and thrive. Additionally, if your soil isn't properly draining, the accumulating water will only fuel this growth more. If you have a drainage problem, getting the landscape graded differently or in some areas getting drainage systems installed may be needed to help remove this vital ingredient for mold/fungi growth.

2) Once the water problem is either fixed or dries out, get your soil PH checked. If you don't have a good SOIL PH METER, get one. It's invaluable and should be used throughout the year to make sure you're "dirt" doesn't get out of balance. As explained in our SOIL PH CONTROL article, once it does all kinds of bad things can happen and one of the most common is the growth of mold and fungus. Other problems relating to bad PH is weed growth, poor grass quality and insect infestations.

3) Once the water problem is resolved and the soil is known to be in balance, you could very well notice the white mold to be gone. But if it's lingering, treating with the MOLD AND ALGAE KILLER would be a good idea. It's easy to use and can be applied over the yard without posing a risk to plants or people. One application should do the job; as previously stated this mold is generally not a major problem and easy to control.

In summary, what you're seeing is undoubtedly the result of excessive moisture following the recent rain pattern and/or the balance of your soil. Get these two things in check and chances are high the problem will resolve itself. If it lingers longer than expected, treat with the Mold Killer RTS and you should see it dry up and die within a week or two. If you still have questiosn or concerns, give us a call on our toll free 1-800-877-7290.

Here are direct links to the information and products mentioned above:

http://www.soil-ph.com/soil-ph

http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1736.html

http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1623.html

jonathan

www.bugspray.com

Not directly. Pine straw indirectly affects the ph in your soil because as it decomposes it does release by products that are low. These in turn bring down the soil. Over time, this can be significant. For some yards, pine straw decomposes slowly and the effect is barely noticeable. For regions where there is a lot of moisture, the rapid decay of pine straw will reflect in rapid ph changes in the soil.

To keep the PH in balance, you'll need to first monitor it with a good SOIL PH METER. This level should be monitored by probing the soil every 3 months. Apply Lime Pellets or even better, some LIQUID LIME as needed. Details on how to use these products can be found in our SOIL PH CONTROL article.

First things first. When it comes to trees, there are many factors that can contribute to their growth pattern and overall health. These factors are somewhat complicated and many times can take years to have an impact – especially since most trees grow slowly. That being said, there are some common reasons why many run into problems and the good news is that these corrective measures can be done by most any homeowner.

At this time, the most important thing to consider would be the condition of the soil under these trees. Spruce trees tend to make the soil underneath them acidic. When the soil PH drops below 6.5, undue stress will be felt by most any tree including spruce. For starters, I suggest you get a good PH reading to see where the soil is being measured where these trees are located. If you don't have a good SOIL PH METER, get one. Take readings every 5 feet. If you find it to be below 6.5, get some LIQUID LIME and bring it back up to an acceptable level. This can be accomplished in a week or two. More information about the importance of ph can be read in our SOIL PH CONTROL article.

Get back to us once you know the soil PH and are confident it's where it should be. This alone could be reason for all other problems; once we know the PH is Ok we'll further advise.

An improper PH should be adjusted anytime it's found as explained in our SOIL PH CONTROL article. Since you are in your prime growing season, we recommend you use LIQUID LIME now to get fast results compared to granules. Applied as explained in our article, you should be able to get your PH back up to 7.0 in no time and be fine for the rest of the summer.

There is a lot we can tell you about soil ph but it would be best if you take a little time to read our SOIL PH article which summarizes most everything you need to know. The bottom line is you need to check this measurement at least twice a year and adjust it as needed. Before we recommend anything else, it's vital you get your lawn measured with a SOIL METER to see if it's Ok. From there we'll be able to further advise.

We have a LAWN PH METER that's both easy to use and inexpensive. It's very handy and a "must have" for anyone that's serious about keeping their grass green and healthy. And if you run into another ph problem at any time, be sure to refer to our on line article about SOIL PH ADJUSTMENTS which explains most everything you'll need to know about how to get your soil in good shape to help it grown great grass.

Soil PH balance is critical if you wish to grow grass, plants and other vegetation. Though most people have problems with it dropping, there are times when it can get too high. The first step you need to take when wanting to maintain your soils PH is to invest in a good Soil PH Test Meter. This will enable you to track trends and make adjustments throughout the year as explained in our Soil PH Control article.

Once you have a good understanding of where your soil is measuring and are ready to treat, apply the Sulfur Granules as explained in our article. They'll drop the PH and can be applied as needed.

As explained in our Soil PH Adjustment article, you can raise the local PH with some Liquid Lime. Each gallon of concentrate can effectively raise the PH .5-1.0 per 17,500 sq/ft. Test weekly following the application and if it's not high enough in one month, apply some more. In most cases, the impact from the application can be seen in 2-3 weeks but wait a month just to be sure. Use a lot of water to apply the Lime. The more water used the faster the impact the treatment will have.

Testing the PH level of your soil is paramount if you wish to keep it in "good shape". Maintaining a proper balance will allow you to get the desired look as well as hold off fungus and insects from preying on the turfs weakened condition an improper PH promotes. Our Soil PH Meter is both easy to read and use and I suggest you take measurements at least once a quarter if you're grass has a had a history of PH flucuations. Stable yards should be monitored at least once every 6 months and adjusted annually if needed; soil which is under pressure from the local environment as explained in our Soil Ph Article may need to be adjusted throughout the growing season.

We have a great portable Soil Ph Meter that is fast, accurate and easy to use. It also measures "available light" as well as the soil moisture level. This tool is vital if you wish to monitor the Ph level of the turf around the house and when maintained right, will enable you to grow grass, plants and most anything. We have more information about ph maintenance on line in our Soil Ph Article.