Here at Carolina Turf and Mosquito, we want to help you keep your turf grass in the best possible condition, and the best way to do that is to spot potential problems early before they can become serious. In this article, we’ll be going over three common turf problems, how to identify them, and what you can do about them.
- Brown Patch- One of the most common turf problems is brown patch. While patches of dead grass can appear for a number of reasons, when turf professionals talk about brown patch, they are generally referring to the common name of the fungal disease Rhizoctonia solani, which causes patches of your turf to wither. Fortunately, many effective fungicides are available to control this problem.
- Large Patch- The Rhizoctonia solani pathogen can also cause a related class of turf problems known as large patch. This disease usually begins as small, baseball-sized patches of brown turf, but those patches can quickly become larger than a car. You may see some green remaining in the center of these patches, as not all grass species are affected by this pathogen. Our team at Carolina Turf and Mosquito can recommend the best fungicides and treatment regimen for dealing with this problem and keeping your turf plush and green.
- Pythium Blight- Another example of a fungal turf problem is pythium blight. This disease is a type of water mold that typically affects areas with poor drainage or ones that experience damp, humid weather conditions. Pythium blight causes small, 1-3” circles of turf to take on a gray, waterlogged appearance, and you may also notice white mycelium (mold fuzz) on mornings with dew.