The hot, humid conditions along with the afternoon and evening showers we face in the Southeast during spring and summer are extremely conducive to fungus activity.
Does your lawn show signs of any of these problems? If so, a fungicide treatment may be necessary.
BROWN PATCH
DOLLAR SPOT
LEAF SPOT
RUST
FAIRY RING
SPRING DEAD SPOT
BROWN PATCH - Brown patch is characterized by the development of irregular, circular areas a few inches to several feet in diameter. These areas will usually appear as brownish to grayish patches. These areas can spread rapidly throughout a fescue lawn when humid, warm, moist conditions exist. Excessive nitrogen levels, watering during the afternoon and early evening, heavy thatch layers, infrequent mowing, and a dull mower blade all make fescue more susceptible to brown patch fungus. Proper watering and mowing practices will help reduce the risk of brown patch, but in most cases, fungicide treatments will be necessary for effective control.
DOLLAR SPOT - Dollar spot appears in bermuda and zoysia lawns as round, brown to straw-colored areas from one to several inches in diameter. It starts out about the size of a silver dollar, thus the name "dollar" spot. Low soil moisture, heat stress from walkways and driveways, poor mowing practices, compact soil and weak root systems all enhance dollar spot activity. Core aeration to relieve compaction, proper cultural practices, and fertilization will help to reduce the occurrence of dollar spot.
LEAF SPOT - Leaf spot occurs in warm weather and is easily recognized. Spots on the leaves develop purplish-red to purplish-brown borders and brown to tan centers. The spots may be as wide as the leaf and somewhat longer than wider. Leaf spots may cause the death of leaf tips, and can also attack the crown and basal parts of the grass plant. Proper watering and mowing, maintaining proper turf density, and fungicide treatments will help to protect the lawn from leaf spot fungus.
RUST - Rust mostly affects bermuda and zoysia lawns. Turf that is infected with rust will turn light green and then begin to have an orange or reddish cast to the turf. The orange powder is actually millions of microscopic spores that can rub off on fingers, shoes, or clothing. Infected leaves can wither and die. Consecutive overcast days with temperatures in the 70's, lawns with low fertility, and heavy dew formation are conditions favorable to rust development. The best method of control for rust is proper mowing practices and fertilization. Fungicides can be used, but normal cultural practices will generally control it.
FAIRY RING - Fairy rings are mostly caused by mushroom fungi and low soil fertility. The first sign of fairy rings may be a ring of mushrooms followed by rings of darker grass with an inside border of dead grass. Proper mowing and fertilization will help control fairy rings. Deep, frequent watering and core aeration will also help. Fungicides will help to eliminate the symptoms, but fungicides will not correct the problems causing fairy rings.
SPRING DEAD SPOT - The symptoms of Spring Dead Spot are small circular dead areas of bermuda-grass 6 inches to several feet in diameter in the spring as bermuda and zoysia grass resumes growth from winter dormancy. Spring Dead Spot is caused by 3 different fungi based in the soil. These fungi feed on the roots of the grass in the autumn and fall. The damage from the fungi is normally not seen until the next spring. Roots can appear to be dark and rotted, and the grass recovers very slowly during the summer months because the fungi excrete a toxin in the soil that inhibits your grass from growing back into the damaged areas. It is usually mid-summer before the affected areas fill in, and the thin areas are often populated by weeds. The disease develops again the following year in the same areas. The spots can enlarge each year and after 2 to 3 years may develop into circular areas where Bermuda grass survives in the center.
