Snow Mold in Winnipeg Lawns: What It Is and What You Can Do About It

As the snow begins to melt in early spring, many Winnipeg homeowners step outside to inspect their lawns—only to find odd, patchy, white or pinkish areas smothering the grass. If that’s you, chances are you’re looking at a case of snow mold.

But don’t panic. Snow mold may look bad, but it’s not the end of your lawn. In this post, we’ll break down exactly what snow mold is, why it happens in Winnipeg, and how to help your lawn bounce back stronger than ever.

What Is Snow Mold?

Snow mold is a lawn fungus that thrives under snow cover, especially during long, wet winters (sound familiar?). It becomes visible in early spring as the snow melts, revealing matted-down patches of discolored grass. These patches can range from white and gray to pinkish-red, depending on the type of snow mold you’re dealing with.

The Two Types of Snow Mold

Gray Snow Mold (Typhula Blight)

• Looks like: White or gray patches

• Damage: Mostly affects grass blades—not the roots

• Needs snow cover to develop

Pink Snow Mold (Fusarium Patch)

• Looks like: Pinkish or reddish patches

• Damage: Can kill both the blades and the roots

• Can grow even without snow, just cool and wet conditions

Why It Happens in Winnipeg

Winnipeg’s climate is a perfect storm for snow mold:

• Long snow cover

• Wet, compacted lawns in fall

• Late-season fertilizing

• Piles of leaves or snow that trap moisture

Cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass (common in Manitoba) are moderately susceptible. Combine that with poor drainage or compacted soil, and snow mold thrives.

How to Fix Snow Mold in Spring

The good news: most cases of snow mold go away on their own once the weather warms up and the lawn dries out.

In the meantime, here’s what you can do:

Gently rake affected areas
This helps break up the matted grass and improves airflow so the area can dry faster.

Use a leaf blower to loosen compacted soil
A gentle blast of air can help break up crusted-over soil and promote quicker drying and new growth.

Avoid walking on it
You’ll only compact it more and slow recovery.

Wait it out
Gray snow mold rarely kills the roots, so you’ll likely see regrowth once soil temperatures rise above 10°C.

Overseed bare spots
If pink snow mold has killed the roots, rake out the dead grass and reseed with a hardy grass blend.

How to Prevent Snow Mold Next Year

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of patching. Here’s how you can prep your lawn in fall to stop snow mold before it starts:

Mow short before winter
Cut your grass slightly shorter than usual before the first snowfall. This helps prevent the blades from matting down.

Clear leaves and debris
Wet piles of leaves are like blankets for mold—get them off your lawn before the snow hits.

Skip late-fall fertilizer
Feeding your lawn too close to winter encourages new growth that’s more vulnerable to mold.

Fix drainage and low spots
Waterlogged areas are mold magnets. Fill in low patches with topsoil to improve drainage.

Loosen compacted areas with a leaf blower or light rake
Improving airflow in the fall can help prevent moisture buildup over winter.

Not Sure What You’re Dealing With?

If you're unsure whether your lawn will recover or need help reseeding and restoring those rough patches, Yardona is here to help.

We offer full spring cleanup services in Winnipeg, including gentle lawn care, raking, overseeding, and expert advice to get your grass back in shape.

Ready to give your lawn a fresh start this spring?
Contact Yardona today for a free quote and let’s bring your lawn back to life—snow mold and all.