One of the many common lawn and soil pests we have in Western North Carolina is Brown Patch Fungus.
Brown Patch Fungus can mimic other lawn ailments or pests such as grubs or over/under watering and can be challenging to spot to the untrained eye. While it’s still early in the season for the fungus, it becomes rampant around July and August, when the temperatures and humidity are highest. That’s why it’s important to start keeping an eye on your lawn and taking preventative measures now to curb this pesky fungus that can leave your lawn with large brown spots and make it more susceptible to other pests or lawn diseases.
Spotting Brown Patch Fungus:
Initially, when your lawn has borne the fungus, it doesn’t appear brown at all but instead begins looking yellow or orange and forming in circular spots. At first glance, you may blame the dog for peeing on the lawn, or think you have a grub, watering, or fertilization problem as these things can burn grass and cause a similar appearance. Over time, these circular spots get larger, and more of your grass begins to die off, making it look quite unpleasant.
Brown spot fungus is caused by a soil fungus called “Rhizoctonia solani.” This is a common lawn issue that we deal with in the Western North Carolina Mountains, due to our unique climate and the amount of rainfall, heat, and humidity we get in the area. When the dampness from the rain is paired with soaring temps and sticky humidity, it creates the perfect environment for this fungus to thrive. Any cool-season grasses can get Brown Patch Fungus; however, tall fescue and ryegrass are most at risk. The worst part is that once you already see the havoc it’s wrecking on your lawn, the damage to the grass is already done and requires treatment or replacement to restore your lush, beautiful lawn. That’s why it’s always best to do what you can and prevent it before it happens!
Prevention:
Fortunately, there are ways that are within your control to curb the fungus.
Fungus requires a lot of moisture to live. You can take a step to prevent this by being sure not to overwater your lawn. A big part of managing Brown Patch is sticking to proper and efficient water management strategies.
This may mean installing an irrigation system so plants only get the water they need at timed intervals during the day and directly to their roots preventing excess water droplets or evaporation that can contribute to the fungus. Or it may mean watering your lawn only when it really needs it, such as in a drought.
Next, another way to prevent it is by having your landscape professionals, TPS Landscaping, apply a prophylactic fungicide application and continue with regular treatment throughout the cooler months such as fall and spring. Our Turf Care Plans may be a great option for you!
Lastly, you can keep it under control through seasonal overseeding of a variety of grasses so that your grass can be more resistant to Brown Patch infections in the future. Overseeding different cultivars of fescue and other grasses can help reduce the rapid spread of the disease, helping you get your lawn back!
To learn more about Brown Patch Fungus, click here.
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