Unlike most lawn diseases caused by fungi, a viral infection like sugarcane mosaic virus can’t be treated with fungicides or pesticides. Viral lawn diseases can be devastating to Palm Beach County lawns and in extreme cases may kill the entire lawn. This is referred to as LVN or lethal viral necrosis.
The most popular sod grass for West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Jupiter and other Palm Beach County, Florida cities is St. Augustine sod and some HOAs and communities in Palm Beach County even require it. Floratam is an extremely popular variety of St. Augustine grass that unfortunately is particularly vulnerable to sugarcane mosaic virus. Bermudagrass and bahiagrass are also susceptible, but to a lessor extent.
Bitterblue and Palmetto are both varieties of St. Augustine grass that are more resistant to sugarcane mosaic virus and the state of Florida even suggests using Palmetto type St. Augustine sod. If St. Augustine sod isn’t a requirement, Zoysiagrass might be a good choice as it does not seem to be susceptible to virus.
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