What is Brown Patch?

Brown patch is not picky.  It can affect any kind of grass.  It particularly likes fescue, ryegrass, St. Augustine grass and centipede grass.

This disease typically appears during the height of the summer when the days and nights are both hot and humid.  It favors lawns that are over fertilized, have a thicker thatch and those that are not properly watered.

This disease causes large circular shaped areas on your lawn.  It can be easily mistaken for damage from dog urine or white grubs.  The patches can be up to several feet in diameter throughout the lawn.  The patches tend to be discolored.  They are either a brownish or grayish color.  Around the edges of the leaves and stems, the grass appears to be water-soaked.  

When the grass is cut too short, the edges of the patch may appear to be a bluish color.  This is called the smoke ring.  

After a few weeks the grass inside the patch may green-up and recover.

From brown patch to lawn diseases.

Your first line of defense should be to check and possibly alter your lawn maintenance practices.  

• Grass should be allowed to dry in between waterings.
• Water early in the day and in the morning.
• Make sure you water deeply.  It is important for the water to reach the soil and the plant roots.
• Make sure you water deeply.  It is important for the water to reach the soil and the plant roots.
• Keep the thatch on the thinner side.  Aerate as necessary.
•  Avoid over fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizer.
•  For cool climate grasses your heaviest fertilizing should be in the fall.  For warm climate grasses your heaviest fertilizing should be in the spring.
• Around shady areas of the grass keep the trees and foilage pruned to allow proper sunlight.

If your lawn is badly infested you can use a fungicide.  Read the directions on the back of the package carefully before you use the product.  Make sure the product controls brown patch on lawns. Always treat the affected and nearby areas.