By Martha Kirk, Colorado Master Gardener

Here’s a new word for you Scrabble lovers – guttation. Guttation refers to the formation of dew drops that you see on plant leaves in the morning. You notice it commonly on turf. Turgor pressure in the roots causes water to move up the plant and out to the tips and edges of leaves. Sounds harmless, right? Not always. Dew drops may contain minerals and sugars, and they are a source of food for fungal pathogens. To avoid potential disease problems, simply run your irrigation system for a short while to wash off the turf. Voilà!