Eliminating Brown Patches In Your Lawn
While in the garden on the weekend, you notice a few brown patches on your lawn. Youre sure that those werent there last week. What could be the problem?
Apart from being unsightly, brown patches are indicative of a larger problem at hand. When you notice these on your lawn, it is highly recommended that you identify the underlying cause in order to enforce the appropriate solution.
Listed here are a few common causes and solutions
Brown patch lawn disease
This lawn disease is characterised by the round, dying areas in lawns. You will notice round patches measuring between 20 cm to a metre that are enclosed by a darker colour.
Typically, this disease infects lawns with poor lawn health. You will see this problem affect lawns during spring.
The disease is caused by microorganisms that are brought to the lawn by external sources like the shoes of visitors, pets, or even borrowed lawn mowers.
Solution
This problem entails a multi-pronged approach. For starters, you will need to identify the pathogen that is causing the disease and find the appropriate fungicide that will eliminate it.
Next, you will need to change your lawn care practices. That will include: reducing watering and doing it early in the morning removing thatch aerating the lawn, and ensuring that the lawn gets ample sunlight.
Dollar spots
Dollar spots refer to small circular yellowish or brownish spots on the surface of the lawn, typically about the size of a dollar in diameter.
Solution
Reseed With Resistant Grass Varieties
Where all other efforts fail you may need to reseed with a turfgrass variety that has known resistance to this fungus. A variety of grasses are available with moderate resistance to the Rhizoctonia fungus. If a brown patch is an annual occurrence, consider top-seeding your lawn with resistant grasses. Check with your local university extension service on recommendations for resistant grass species.
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What Types Ofgrass Are More Prone To Brown Fungus
Rhizoctonia can actually be a problem that all cool-season lawn grasses experience, but if you have tall fescue or ryegrass in your garden these are even more susceptible to its negative effects.
For other types of grass, such as fine fescue and Kentucky bluegrass, these might experience damage but its nothing too bad.
When it comes to warm-season grass, like St. Augustine and Zoysia grass, these can also be affected by the brown fungus, so its quite a common hazard.
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What Time Is It Time To Get A Watch Or At Least A Water Timer Dont Water At The Wrong Time
Watering the lawn too late in the day will leave the lawn damp at night. This is especially problematic in the cooler months as this is precisely the conditions brown patch mold thrives in.
Instead water in the early morning, preferably at sunrise. This will give the grass blades time to dry before nightfall.
Brown Patch Fungus: How To Get Rid Of Brown Patch Fungus Lawn Disease
If youve noticed that the grass is turning yellow or brown in circular patches throughout your lawn, its likely that youre dealing with an infestation of brown patch fungus. This fungus causes whats known as brown patch lawn disease, and can destroy small to large areas of what would otherwise be healthy, green grass. It thrives when the weather is hot and humidity levels are high.
In order to get rid of brown patch fungus, you can apply a fungicide designed for brown patch control throughout your lawn. There are also several measures you can take to prevent the fungus from returning or spreading, such as limiting the use of nitrogen fertilizers, improving soil drainage, and improving air circulation. Read through this guide to find out everything you need to know about brown patch control and prevention to get rid of brown patch fungus for good.
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How To Treat And Prevent St Augustine Grass Fungus
The best way to control brown patch disease in St. Augustine grass lawns is by following a proper lawn care program that includes regular mowing, dethatching, core aeration, and a proper watering schedule. In case there are signs of the disease, early treatment using a fungicide is key in managing the damage. You may need to apply fungicides as a prevention measure in turfgrasses and regions that are prone to fungal infections.
Here are 7 ways to treat and prevent fungus in St. Augustine grass:
Keep It Under Control
The good news is that your turf can recover from brown patch. The bad news? You may have to wait until the active growing season to see an improvement in appearance. While a fungicide application can help prevent spread to other areas, spots that have rotted will need to regrow.
Meanwhile, steps should be taken to ensure youre not transferring the fungus to healthy parts of your lawn. Affected areas should not be mowed, as that could cause diseased clippings to deposit elsewhere, spreading the infection. You should also avoid walking over the area so your shoes dont transport the spores. Finally, its important to not apply fertilizer during an outbreak. Sure, youll feed your lawn, but youll also feed the fungus, too.
Because brown or yellow spots can be the result of a number of causes, its important to have your lawn assessed by an experienced landscape professional. If brown patch is confirmed, proper treatment is critical. Self-diagnosis and treatment could make the problem worse. Our teams are experienced in treating brown patch, and can help make the process stress-free. Request a free quote or give us a call at .
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Enlist The Help Of Professionals
Lawn care providers such as Green Oasis Lawn and Reticulation can help you establish and maintain a healthy turf thats less susceptible to brown patch by handling soil aeration, disease control, moisture retention, de-thatching and more. With over 15 years of experience in lawn care, we are a dedicated team of turf and irrigation professionals who will restore your lawn to its former glory.
For more information and enquiries on treating brown patch in lawns, dont hesitate to call us today.
What Are Brown Patches In Lawns
Brown patch is actually caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia. This tough fungus will lay dormant over the Summer, then spring into action once temperatures start to reach around 70°F, and is at its most potent when temperatures range from 8085°F. It often pops up right after heavy rain events and cloudy days.
In the very early stages of fungal development, the grass will look wilted and wet, and the grass edges may look wavy. This stage doesnt last long, though, and soon it will turn into a brown patch that gets matted and sunken into the ground. Brown patch spreads outward quite fast from a central point, so as soon as you start to see brown circular patches popping up in your grass, its time to get to work. You may often notice a rusty orange ring around the patches, or spots where two patches meet and form an irregular shape.
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How To Treat Brown Patches In Your Yard
Years ago, scientists took a soil sample from deep below the ice in Antarctica and found something: brown patch.
Brown patch is a fungus causing brown circles in your lawn during the hot humid months of summer. Why did they find it in Antarctica then? Because brown patch can remain dormant for many years. The reason you notice it now is because it has become active, the good news is we can control it!
How To Prevent Brown Patch
As previously stated, this particular turf disease will be most successful if your lawn is wet going into the evening and night. To prevent brown patch water your lawn in the early morning, preferably between 3:00am – 8:00am.
Proper airflow is also crucial to preventing brown patch on your lawn. As previously stated, brown patch prefers moist areas so if you increase airflow in troublesome areas, it will help to dry off your turfgrass. Do your best to increase circulation in these areas by removing unnecessary objects or foliage in your backyard. Also, a proper regiment of aeration will help to strengthen your lawn and increase airflow to the root zone.
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What Is Causing These Brown Patches In My Yard
It’s true, our lawns aren’t always as green as we want them to be.
You may be treating your lawn perfectly and still experience a brown patch in the lawn.
So what is causing the brown patches of grass?
And what can you do to fix a dead patch of grass?
Well, we did the leg work and reached out to the pros to find out.
Below you will find what they had to say!
Can A Brown Lawn Be Saved
Generally, yes. If the lawn is brown because it has gone dormant, it will bounce back by itself and turn green again during its growing season. However, if your lawn has turned brown all over due to drought, there is no way to revive it.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at .
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Lawn Fungus Treatments For Dollar Spots
Dollar spots are small circular patches in the lawn that can get up to a few inches in diameter. This is a grass disease that is the result of a fungal infection. The fungus tends to thrive in lawns that are undernourished and areas where the air is moist but the soil is dry.
The first step in preventing dollar spots is to make sure you are providing your lawn with enough nitrogen. Along with that, you want to water your lawn deeply a few times a week. You may also want to consider aerating your lawn to help water and nutrients reach roots.
Grass diseases can be very difficult to get under control once they are established in your lawn. That is why you should focus on prevention. Develop a lawn care plan based on the type of grass you have and the conditions in your yard. Your lawn wont be as vulnerable if you are mowing your lawn to the correct height, providing the right amount of water and using the right fertilizer.
Get all the tools you need to ensure your lawn is looking its best at WORX!
How To Repair Brown Patches In Your Lawn
In this guide, we are going to show you how to repair brown patches in your lawn.
Lawn patches can appear for a number of different reasons. Examples include bad weather, compacted soil, and general wear and tear from children and pets.
Generally speaking, lawn patches are inevitable unless you are a professional gardener or someone who has hours to spare.
Most people do not have the time to tend to their grass on a regular basis. As a result, these fixes are often necessary on a yearly basis.
Note that you should alwayscut your lawn before fixing up patches. If you fail to do this, the surrounding grass may tower above the patch and prevent your new seed from receiving any sun. That, or the grass around it will grow so long that you will feel forced to cut it.
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Want Faster Results Using Fungicide Early May Be Your Key
Using fungicide early can be an effective way to control brown patch mold. There are many fungicides to chose from, and the one you chose will be largely dependent on what is available in your area, as well as the type of application that works best for you. Whichever fungicide you decide on, follow the instructions on the packaging. Most fungicides will need to be applied once or twice a month. For the best results, be certain to begin use fungicide at the first signs of brown patch fungus.
Conditions That Contribute To Disease Pressure
- Prevalent June-September, when daytime temperatures are 85º or above, nighttime temperatures are above 68º, and relative humidity is high.
- Applications of water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer, especially urea, nitrate, or ammonium in late spring-summer increase the chances of a lawn becoming infected with the disease.
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When To Seek Professional Lawn Treatment For Brown Patch
TruGreen® certified specialists know exactly what your lawn needs and what changes you may need to make to achieve a lawn youll love. If you suspect your lawn is infected or youre worried it may become so, give one of our specialists a call to set you up on a plan for a healthy lawn.
To schedule a consultation with one of our TruGreen-Certified Specialists, call 866.688.6722. Youll be on your way to finding out how to remedy that sad, brown lawn, and rebuild the healthy, green lawn you can enjoy day after day.
What Causes Brown Patch Disease
Some types of fungi such as take-all root rot exist naturally in the lawn while others are triggered by the prevailing conditions in the grass. Therefore, it is important to determine the exact cause in order to prevent the disease from recurring after treatment.
Here are the causes of brown patch disease in lawns:
- Overwatering: Too much water from rainfall or irrigation leads to prolonged wetness in the lawn. Such conditions attract fungal diseases such as Phythium root rot in St. Augustine grass.
- Overfertilization: Applying too much fertilizer in your lawn can cause increased biological activity in your lawn, leading to fungal infections and even fertilizer burn. Keep in mind that Rhizoctonia fungus can also find nitrogen-deficient lawns more favorable.
- Shade in the lawn: Too much shade in your lawn can mean due settles in the shaded areas for prolonged periods, which encourages fungi to grow.
- Hot and humid conditions: Rhizoctonia and phythium blight prefer hot and wet conditions. These fungal diseases advance rapidly when temperature conditions rise to about 80-90°F.
- Too much organic matter in the soil: Excessive organic matter can result from poor topdressing methods or leftover debris during lawn establishment. These attract fairy rings and mushroom to germinate in the lawn.
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Replace Affected Grass With New Sod
This DIY treatment method is best for fairy ring fungus a type of grass fungus that manifests itself as a brown ring of dead grass enclosing a dark-green patch.
Fairy ring fungus can be treated through the removal of any white soil sections on the outer parts of the rings. Once youve removed the affected areas, refill the excavated lawn area with a fresh layer of St. Augustine grass sod.
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When To Get Rid Of Brown Patch Fungus
Begin your efforts at brown patch control in the spring, with aeration and dethatching. Application of fungicide should be done when the fungal patches appear, usually mid to late summer, Reseeding with different grass species, where necessary, can be done by over-seeding over several fall seasons, or, if you want quicker results, eliminate the old turf grasses in spring and reseed immediately.
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We Carry Heritage G At Our Office
Call us at 281-431-7441 for recommendations about the best way to treat brown patch in your lawn. Click here for our office hours and directions.
At Houston Grass we take great pride in the quality of the turfgrass sod we deliver. We carry two varieties of St. Augustine grass, two varieties of Bermuda grass, and three varieties of Zoysia grass. Our grass is grown on our family farm in Bay City so its adapted to the climate and the soil of the Houston area and the Texas Gulf Coast. Check the reviews and testimonials weve received from our customers.
Our office is located in Arcola, just a few miles east of Sienna Plantation and just off Highway 6 on McKeever Road. You can pick up your grass at our office or we can arrange delivery. We can also arrange for professional installation too. Just call us at 281-431-7441.
An Ounce Of Prevention
1. Soak your pets favorite areas in your lawn to remove salts from the root zone before they kill the grass.
2. Fertilize your lawn in the spring to boost the overall color and mask the darker green dog spots.
3. Train your pet to urinate in a designated area. Replace or repair the grass in this area annually or cover it with mulch.
4. Keep your pet well hydrated to make its urine less concentrated.
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Stop Cutting Your Lawn Too Short
If you cut your grass too short, then this puts stress on it and can make it more vulnerable to fungus.
Make sure you always leave about three inches of grass height, although the height thats right for your specific lawn grass will vary.
You can learn more about different grasses and their requirements in Eight Different Types Of Grasses.
Its also important to ensure that your mowers blade is sharp.
If its blunt, this can tear off grass instead of cutting it, leaving ragged grass thats much more prone to getting fungal infections as well as other diseases.
Always make sure the blade has been sharpened in spring before lawn mowing starts, but if you use your mower regularly or you have a large garden you should check the blade regularly.
How To Prevent Brown Patch Fungus
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes. While nothing will for sure prevent brown patch fungus from getting to your lawn, the following tips can reduce the chances.
- Make sure to follow the appropriate lawn care tips, especially if you have a St. Augustine or Zoysia lawn. Watering should be done deeply and infrequently in the morning hours to prevent fungus growth. Learn more in our Watering Guidelines.
- Mow the lawn frequently at a moderate height to improve air movement between the blades of grass. This will help evaporate any moisture on the grass, inhibiting the growth of brown patch fungus.
- Proper fertilization ensures that your grass immune system has the nutrients it needs to fight off brown patch fungus.
- Avoid using too much nitrogen during the fall, especially in a fast-release form, as it encourages fungus growth as well.
- Water early in the morning so that everything evaporates from the grass leaves at night, leaving no water for fungus to grow.
- Use preventative fungicides in September and October to drastically reduce the chances of brown patch fungus growing. However, directions need to be followed specifically to ensure the health of the grass.
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