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My lawn has been very healthy, but here lately it has been getting brown spots throughout the yard and I do not know what is causing it. We have had an abnormally high amount of rain this spring so I am thinking the moisture may have have caused some sort of fungus to affect my lawn. My yard is a tall fescue, and I fertilized about 3 months ago, so I know that is not the problem. Any tips or suggestions? I am thinking of trying a fungicide from my local nursery. On a side note. my next door neighbor's yard is Zoysia, and it has no brown spots at all, so it may be a fungus or something specific to fescue. Thanks. Plants: 9 | From: Nashville | Registered: Apr 2003
| Seeded: 68.53.16.59
posted
It is possible that your spots are caused by a fungal diseas (ie. Brown patch or Dollar spot)
Close cutting, poor drainage, overwatering, excessive nitrogen, and low pH are contributing factors to Brown spot. Control the disease by reducing the nitrogen fertilizatrion. Top dress the lawn with humus-building compost. Water less frequendtly and only during the day so that there is time for it to dry before night.
If the spots are smaller - silver dollar size - it could be Dollar spot which is also a fungal disease. It is seen often on golf green and lawns low in nitrogen. Top dress the lawn with organic matter. Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer as well as seaweed extract, and mow the lawn less often.
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Thanks. I have only fertilized once about 3 months ago, but we have had an abnormally high amount of rain, and I have had to cut my yard about every 3 days because of all the rain. I will try some fungicide and adding some humus. Do you think dethatching would help to prevent further disease?
Plants: 9 | From: Nashville | Registered: Apr 2003
| Seeded: 68.53.16.59
posted
Hi Stotty......yeah....dethatching should be done in the spring....it allows for good air circulation and water drainage. I usually do mine each spring.
The other thing you should do, it try pulling on the affected areas. If the sod comes up without trouble....check to see if you have roots there. If there are none....it is possible that your culprit is an insect. Dig around a bit and see if you can see any grubs under the sod. If that is the case you will have to treat the lawn with an insecticide.
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