Is brown patch fungus damaging your lawn? This fungal disease can wreak major havoc on not just the appearance of your lawn, but the health.
An expert can identify the root cause of the brown patch fungus in your lawn, create a personalized treatment plan and put prevention methods in place to help maintain the health of your lawn for the long-term. Additionally, they’ll advise you on proper lawn maintenance techniques to avoid fungal diseases in the future.
How to Identify Brown Patch Fungus
Brown patch is a fungal disease that can turn a beautiful lush lawn into a patchy and brown one in a short amount of time. This disease typically appears in mid to late summer and affects some types of grasses more than others.
Brown patch fungus appears as circular or irregular brown patches of grass across your lawn. The grass will look dead, and the patches range in size from a few inches to several feet. If left untreated, brown patch fungus can quickly spread throughout your whole lawn.
The types of grass most susceptible to brown patch fungus are tall fescue, bermuda grass, zoysia grass, Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass. These grasses are even more vulnerable to developing brown patch fungus in high temperatures and high humidity.
In addition to the circular brown patches, there are several other signs of brown patch fungus. For example, grass blades may turn dark in color and look like they’re water-soaked. The grass may also start pulling away from the soil.
Wondering why you have yellow spots in your grass? Even though the fungal disease is known for turning grass brown, it may also turn your grass yellow or gray. The fungus can also present as a white, black or gray powdery substance on the tops of the grass blades.
Brown patch fungus may also produce mushrooms or other unusual growths across your lawn. However, the most important indicator of brown patch fungus is the fact that the patches continue to grow. As the fungal disease spreads, the patches will get bigger and take over your lawn.
Brown Patch Fungus Prevention and Treatment
The bad news is that brown patch fungus will not go away on its own. It can cause significant damage to your grass’s root system and weaken the overall health of your lawn.
However, the good news is that there are several helpful prevention and treatment methods to help you restore your lawn back to its former glory.
The best way to prevent brown patch fungus is with proper lawn maintenance. It’s important not to overwater your lawn, especially after the sun goes down. Excess water creates the proper environment for fungi to grow.
Next, ensure your lawn has proper drainage to avoid too much water sitting on the soil’s surface. Aerating your lawn can also help prevent brown patch fungus from growing by reducing soil compaction.
During humid months, do not fertilize your lawn with fertilizer that has high amounts of nitrogen. For the best fertilization techniques and schedule, contact a lawn care professional.
Finally, mow your lawn often to maintain proper height, and keep nearby vegetation trimmed back to maintain proper circulation to your lawn.
If brown patch fungus has already taken over your lawn, the best way to treat it is with professional assistance. A lawn care specialist can diagnose the specific strain of fungus and provide a comprehensive treatment plan.
Will a Lawn Recover From a Brown Patch?
Brown patch fungus may quickly damage your lawn’s health and appearance, but it is not a hopeless situation. Your lawn can recover from brown patch fungus when the underlying issue is addressed and the disease is properly treated.
After diagnosis and treatment, it’s crucial to maintain brown patch fungus prevention methods to keep your lawn healthy in the future.
The best way to treat brown patch fungus is with professional help. Once a lawn care specialist diagnoses the problem, they will identify the root cause of the disease. Brown patch fungus is caused by the growth of the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, which thrives in warm and humid conditions.
There are three main reasons why this fungus grows in your yard: excess moisture, poor drainage and overwatering. All of these issues create the wet environment that fungus requires to grow.
The first step to treating brown patch fungus is to reduce moisture in your lawn. That may look like cutting back on watering or watering during a different time of day. For instance, watering your lawn in the morning gives it plenty of time to dry during the day, whereas watering later leaves it damp overnight.
Proper mowing techniques can also help treat brown patch fungus because it strengthens your lawn’s root system. Also, keep in mind that it’s best not to mow wet grass.
Another factor in brown patch fungus treatment is proper airflow. Aerating and dethatching your lawn can improve drainage and help ensure your grass gets plenty of air circulation.
A lawn care specialist can create a personalized brown patch fungus treatment plan for your lawn. They can also advise you on further prevention methods to keep your lawn green and lush.
Will Lawn Fungus Go Away On Its Own?
Lawn fungus, including brown patch, does not go away on its own. In fact, if left untreated, it will continue to spread and get worse. It’s important to remember that lawn fungus is a disease that can cause significant damage to the health of your lawn.
To prevent as much damage as possible, it’s important to catch fungal disease early. The quicker you act, the better chance your lawn has of fully recovering.
The first early sign of a fungal disease like brown patch is discolored patches of grass. If your grass suddenly appears yellow, brown or gray in circular or irregular patterns, it could be due to a fungal disease.
Next, if random areas of your lawn begin to thin, wilt or appear sunken, it’s likely because of a fungal disease. This is especially true if the rest of your lawn still appears healthy. Luckily, there are many ways to fix patchy grass.
Fungal diseases like brown patch may also cause individual grass blades to develop lesions, spots or a slimy texture. You may also notice a fuzzy or powdery substance on the grass.
If you see any of these signs of fungal disease in your lawn, do not hesitate to contact a lawn care specialist. Remember that the sooner you act, the less damage the disease can cause.
How Does a Lawn Care Pro Treat Fungal Disease?
There are multiple ways to treat fungal diseases, and lawn care specialists are up to date on the most effective methods. The primary treatment technique is to use a fungicide product on your lawn. This will kill the fungal disease and give your lawn a chance to grow back healthfully.
An expert will also address proper lawn maintenance, such as watering schedules, mowing, aeration, fertilization and more.
The best part of working with a pro is that they don’t just treat the disease, they also assess the root problem. Next, they use that knowledge to put fungal prevention methods in place for the future. For example, if the root problem is poor water drainage, they will help you improve your drainage system.
Working with an expert is the best way to get personalized treatment for fungal disease and restore your lawn back to full health. Don’t hesitate to call in your local lawn care company if you suspect fungal disease is wreaking havoc on your lawn.
Work With an Expert to Get Rid of Brown Patch Fungus Today
Brown patch fungus can quickly turn beautiful, lush grass into a patchy and unsightly lawn. Catching this disease as soon as possible is key to restoring your lawn back to its full health and beauty.
The best and most efficient way to deal with brown patch fungus is to work with a lawn care professional. An expert will identify the root problem and create a personalized treatment plan to revive your lawn.
ABC Can Keep Your Lawn Healthy and Green
The best way to prevent any problem with your lawn is to create a lawn care schedule that works best for the lawn type, soil type and sun exposure you have in your yard. Instead of spending your free time trying to determine what will work best for your particular situation, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our lawn care specialists are highly-trained and can provide you with routine lawn care that keeps your lawn free of fungi, pests and other diseases.
