Lawn Disease Profile: Brown Patch

Picture of Brown Patch

Brown patch is a very common lawn disease that is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. It is very prevalent in warm and humid areas attacking all different types of grasses like St. Augustine grass and Kentucky bluegrass. The disease appears in circular patches of dead grass sometimes in diameters of many feet. Using a quick-release nitrogen fertilizer can cause the grass to be susceptible to brown patch. When the disease becomes severe, it will attack the plant crowns and kill the grass.

How to Treat Brown Patch on Lawns

You can cure brown patch by using a contact fungicide. It is important that you treat the disease as soon as possible and continue to apply fungicide for several weeks after or as long as humid, warm weather persists. There are plenty of fungicides at Lowes or Home Depot that are marked as being able to treat brown patch disease.

How to Prevent Brown Patch Lawn Disease

Watering infrequently can help keep the grass as dry as possible. Also, try to water only early in the morning to prevent wet grass in the evenings. Control thatch by dethatching or aerating your lawn and make sure to follow a good annual fertilizer program. Stick with slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and try not to fertilize during heavy rains when the lawn is most saturated.