How to Identify and Treat Brown Patch Fungus in Your Lawn?

Every homeowner desires a beautiful green lawn, yet brown patch fungus can transform it suddenly into an unappealing sight. A widespread lawn infective agent produces brown circular spots, weakening the turf grass structure and degrading exterior appearances. The right strategy lets you wipe out brown patch lawn disease while bringing back lawn vitality. This guide examines brown patch fungus regarding origin, available treatments, and preventive actions.

What is Brown Patch Fungus?

Brown patch fungus (Rhizoctonia solani) is a turfgrass disease that spreads best when temperatures remain warm and humidity is high. The disease spreads rapidly, generating circular brown lawn areas while damaging grass root systems. Brown patch disease progresses to destroy your lawn while creating such serious damage that it becomes hard to recover.

Types of Grass Most Commonly Affected by Brown Patch Fungus

Many grasses are prone to brown patch fungus attacks, yet some of the following are most vulnerable to this disease:

Types of Grass Most Commonly Affected by Brown Patch Fungi

St. Augustine grass is common in southern lawns and is highly vulnerable to fungal infections.
Bermuda grass on golf courses and sports fields becomes susceptible to brown patch disease as humidity increases.
Zoysia grass shows resistance against fungus, but certain wet areas may lead to a brown patch appearance.
Tall fescue is a cool-season grass type that emerges as a top target for the brown patch fungus when operating under hot, humid environmental conditions.

Signs & Symptoms of Brown Patch Fungus

Monitoring for warning signs is critical to curb the spread of brown patch lawn disease. Pay close attention to the following indicators:

Rounded Brown Spots: These can be anywhere from a few centimeters to several meters wide.
Withering or Dead Grass Patches in Lawn: The impacted grass changes from green to brown and ultimately withers away and dies.
Darker Edges of the Patches: The edges of the patches can be darker because of the active stage of the fungus.
Grass Blades Covered in Slime or Webbing: Superheating weather may make fungal webs visible in the mornings.

Causes & Risk Factors of Brown Patch Fungus

Brown patch fungus grows particularly when specific environmental factors and incorrect yard care methods are present. The development of brown patch fungus occurs as shown below:

Fungal growth benefits from excessive moisture and drainage problems from poor watering habits.
The disease peaks while nighttime temperatures stay above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and daily temperatures surpass 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The spread of fungi becomes stronger when thick grass, excessive thatch, and dense landscaping materials limit air circulation.
Excessive nitrogen increases grass growth, making grass blades more susceptible to infections.
Brown patch disease spreads more easily in lawns trimmed too short because their weakened state makes them vulnerable.

How to Treat Brown Patch Fungus

Follow these recommendations when identifying brown discolored areas to treat lawn disease properly:

You should manage lawn drainage by implementing lawn aeration and fixing drainage problems. Avoid excessive watering of the lawn during evening hours.
A high-quality fungicide that includes azoxystrobin, propiconazole, or thiophanate-methyl should be used to stop fungal growth. Use the product according to directions for the most effective outcomes.
Maintain your grass at 3-4 inches in height because longer blades encourage stronger roots and prevent fungus infection.
Switch to lawn fertilizers with a balanced nutrient content with low nitrogen since excessive growth due to high nitrogen weakens the grass.
Aerate and dethatch the lawn to improve airflow through the soil and prevent areas where fungi can breed.
Early morning waterings are best for the grass lawn since the dry daytime diminishes the risk of fungal spread.

How to Prevent Brown Patch Fungus

Prevention is the best medicine. To maintain brown patch grass, sample a few of the following recommendations:

Water Carefully: It’s better to water infrequently and deeply to avoid too much water.
Improve Circulation: Cut back overgrown trees and shrubs for better airflow.
Mow Frequently And Correctly: Avoid mowing the grass too short. Instead, maintain a good mowing height.
Fertilize Carefully: Avoid using too much nitrogen in the fertilizer because it enables weak and rapid growth.
Use Fungicides As Preventatives: Fungicides should be used before conditions that are likely to lead to fungal growth so that they can be controlled.
Disinfect Tools: To avoid transmission of diseases, disinfect mowers and other gardening implements.

When to Call a Professional

Sometimes, normal DIY techniques will not be sufficient for dealing with stubborn brown patches in lawns. Here is why and when you should consider purchasing professional services:

Severe & Widespread Damage: When there is an invasive spread of brown patch fungus, it is typically best to seek professional help immediately.
Recurring Infections: Continual infection of the brown patch disease, regardless of the individual’s attempts to mitigate it, calls for a landscaper to locate other possible hidden problems.
Lawn Health Decline: Prolonged thinning or yellowing of grass is best understood with professional insight.

How Landscaping Experts Can Help:

Carry out proper lawn examinations to determine the existence of any fungal disease.
Use sophisticated fungicides on the brown patches the length and breadth of the lawn.
Do professional-level aeration, dethatching, and fertilization of the lawn.

Benefits of Hiring Lawn Care Experts:

Increased Efficiency: Professional services offer specially tailored solutions instead of DIY efforts that take longer and are less effective.
Proactive Approach: Professionals will create customized routine maintenance to ensure no further incidents occur.
Better Quality: Increased maintenance from professionals will make your lawn the envy of the neighbors because it is lush and healthy.

Conclusion

The persistent problem of brown patch fungus negatively affects your lawn, yet proper attention to care and therapy allows you to restore your lawn’s beautiful appearance. Emergency detection of symptoms during early stages combined with proper factor management and appropriate treatment regimes will help control brown patch lawn disease.

Expert support is needed to resolve chronic fungal infection problems. Blades of Glory Landscaping Services LLC provides the solution to resolve these issues. The highly experienced staff at our company delivers professional solutions to sustain your lawn’s health during every season of the year.