Identifying The Cause of Brown Patches in Lawns

About Brown Patches

• Brown patches can be a cause of concern for lawn care experts, grounds keepers and gardeners.

• They can be a sign of disease and infection. This slideshow will describe the various signs and stages of lawn disease that can result in brown patches.

Identification

• Are the brown patches between 70mm and 600mm in diameter? • Has the grass or turf been wet or damp for a week or more?• Is the temperature cool (between 7 and 15 degrees Celsius)?If these conditions are present then foliar fungus may be an issue for your lawn.

Broad Information About Foliar Blights of Turf

Foliar turf infections are fairly common in the United Kingdom. This is because of the underlying environmental conditions make ideal conditions for its survival. The UK is often fairly damp and cool and so these fungal spores can thrive.

Foliar pathogens survive by killing off the mass of the turf blades. They do not completely kill the plant but take away the bulk of its health and pleasant appearance. The fungus survives by breaking down the grass blades which discolours the grass giving it the brown appearance we see.

How to Prevent and Control• • Make sure you mow your turf properly. If your grass is long

then it will hold water for longer which creates ideal conditions for fungal growth. If you have brown patches on your lawn already then try mowing the grass when it is dry, this will curb the spread of disease.

• Monitor your fertiliser levels. Some fungus strains will attack more when the level of fertilisation is too low or high. Therefore maintaining a good balance will help your grass stay in health.

• Monitor the drainage levels of your turf. If water tends to pool after rain on your turf then the soil may be compacted. Treatment may be needed with an aerator to lessen the compaction of your soil.

The Use of Fungicides to Control Brown Patches

In very bad cases fungicides can be used to treat the problem. However you will want to gain advice from someone who knows turf disease well to make sure you are treating it right.

In some cases brown marks may be from conditions other than fungal disease and so get an expert opinion

Final Remarks

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