As more normal temperatures return, the subsequent flowers that come on the plant should be back in the fruit-setting business. From the few pockets of the state that have received adequate rain, we have received reports of turf with white, black, red, orange, purple, and or rust-colored powder. This is slime mold which occurs during prolonged warm and wet weather. They look extremely damaging but will rarely damage turf. Slime molds are primitive organisms that appear as crusty spores enveloping grass blades.
Slime molds use grass blades for elevation into wind currents in order to spread.
Slime molds do not actually infect plants, but a prolonged covering of slime mold may smother the grass plant. Regular mowing will usually break up and disperse slime mold. Brown Stripes in Lawns With the dry weather, many lawns and commercial properties are showing distinct light brown stripes, curiously the same width apart as the wheels on the mower. These stripes might disappear in areas with more plant available water like shade, swales, and irrigated areas of the property. These stripes result from mowing when the plant is entering the early stages of drought stress.