Brown Patch
RHIZOCTONIA (BROWN PATCH)
- Affects mostly tall fescue; seldom blue rye
- Most common during July thru September (higher humidity and warmer weather)
- Main cause — Keeping the leaf surface continuously wet (daily watering)
- Symptoms — Roughly round areas ranging in size from several inches to 3 feet in diameter — at times, the outer edge may develop a one to two inch “smoke ring” caused by cobweb threads of fungus that grow among the base of the leaf blades.
- Cultural Practices — to minimize chances of disease:
- Avoid applying high rates of Nitrogen, particularly in late spring and summer
- Water during early AM hours to allow grass leaves all day to dry off
- Avoid frequent irrigation that keeps the leaf blades wet and that results in water logged/compacted soils
- Mow at the upper end of recommended mowing heights (but not above recommended mowing heights)
- Spray on a fungicide labeled for Brown Patch if symptoms appear … repeat every 10 days until symptoms are gone...ALWAYS READ & FOLLOW LABELED DIRECTIONS!