Herbi-Systems offers fungicide treatments for most lawn diseases. If you believe you have a fungus or disease, please contact our office. We will send a manager out to check on the lawn and advise what needs to be done. We have listed the most common lawn diseases below alphabetically with their description.

Brown Patch forms large (several feet) uneven circles with a gray to brown coloration. Centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, rye, Fescue, bent, and Zoysia grasses are susceptible.

Dollar spot comprises small patchy spotting in which the grass dies off and ranges in color from tan to straw colored. This is a general occurrence near the coast and on soil that is low on nitrogen. Can be found in Bermuda, bent, blue, Fescue and rye grasses.

Fairy Ring has a totally different look than the other diseases with the appearance of a darker green amid the unaffected grass and surrounding an inner cob webbed dead grass. Trying to get water under the fungus and constant mowing will help provide some removal of the webbing. All grasses can be affected. MSU Extension Service Article on Fairy Rings

Fusarium Patch (Pink snow mold) develops under snow or at the edges of melting snow. Pinkish tinge can be seen in the early morning with thready fungi and white or pinkish spores of gel substance. The grass blades turn brown and clump together. Fescues, Zoysia, rye grass, bent grasses are effected.

Leaf spot can readily be seen on the leaf blade itself and is straw colored inside and purple shading on the outside of the spots. Grasses affected are blue, Fescue and Bermuda grasses.

Necrotic Ring Spot is similar to summer brown patch and forms frog eyed spotting with a reddish purple coloring with the disease growing on the grass for a period of time but not showing until the warmer, dryer parts of the summer. Grasses most affected are blue grasses, bent grasses and Fescues.

Powdery Mildew looks as if lime has been dusted onto the grass and results from too much shade in a damp area and not enough air circulation and too much fertilization. Bluegrass, Bermuda, and Zoysia are affected.

Red Thread starts out by water looking spots of the leaf and then the blades turn a tannish brown and shortly after the fungus makes thin thready attachments at the tips of the blades. Red Fescue, blue grass, rye, and bent grasses affected.

Rust looks exactly as it sounds with the grass having rust to orange coloration from spores that build up on the blades of grass and are readily seen. This disease is more favorable to warm, damp weather where the grass doesn’t get the chance to dry out as with periods of long lasting dew from up to 10 hours. This is especially favorable on overcast damp days. Any contact moving through the infected areas helps spread the spores. Blue grass and rye grass are the most affected. Proper fertilization and frequent mowing can help with this problem. Remember disinfect your mower to prevent reoccurrence.

Spring Dead Spot shows small circular dead areas of Bermuda grass 6 inches to several feet in diameter in the spring as Bermuda grass resumes growth from winter dormancy. The Bermuda grass roots and stolons in affected spots appear dark and rotted. The grass recovers very slowly during the summer months from stolons creeping in from the border of affected areas. Bermuda grass stolons that grow into the affected areas usually produce short, stubby roots. The dead spot can only be treated when active. The applications must begin in late summer or early autumn when the fungus is thought to be the active.Texas Extension Service Article on Spring Dead Spot in Bermudagrass.

Stripe Smut looks exactly like it sounds with a dark coloration on the blades and bright green leaves that will eventually curl up and die. Blue grasses and bent grasses are affected.

Summer Patch (fusarium blight) appears as green growths in the middle of dead brown patches. This fungus prefers the hot, drier weather which alternate from wet to dry periods. Keeping the grass watered during the drier times will help prevent this disease. Bent, tall fescues, blue grasses and perennial rye grass are affected.

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