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How To Treat Fungus In St Augustine Grass

Know How To Protect Your Lawns Health

How To Control And Treat Fungus In St. Augustine Grass (Brown Patch/Large Patch Fungus)

Avoid disease destruction with these brown patch tips.

The beauty of a lawn can be quickly destroyed by brown patch , a serious fungal disease that can affect turfgrass. There are no turfgrass species entirely resistant to brown patch currently available, so it is very important for your entire lawns health to get treatment as soon as you notice any signs of brown patch disease.

The lawn care professionals at Fairway Lawns can help treat brown patch and get your lawn back to looking its best! Contact us today!

Replace The Affected Sod

The best way to get rid of fairy ring fungus is to replace the affected lawn sections with new St. Augustine sod. This is a more eco-friendly option compared to the use of chemical fungicides.

Dig out the affected soil sections and refill them with a new St. Augustine grass sod. However, if you find this option to be too labor-intensive and time-consuming, you can opt for an appropriate fungicide such as flutolanil or Consan 20. For maximum efficiency, pick a fungicide product that combines at least two of these active ingredients.

St Augustine Grass Diseases And Problems

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  • Weve all been there before- you wake up one day and your otherwise lush green St. Augustine lawn is spotting unsightly patches of brown or yellow grass. This- despite the fact that youve been mowing, watering, and fertilizing the lawn as necessary. So- what could be the issue here?

    Well, St. Augustine grass- despite being relatively disease-resistant, is still vulnerable to a variety of fungal diseases, as well as pest infestations and competition from weeds. All these factors can affect the health of your St. Augustine turf, leading t it showing visible signs of turf stress. In this blog, we discuss St. Augustine grass problems in detail, including what causes them and how to fix these problems.

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    How Do I Know If I Have St Augustine Fungus

    If your St. Augustine grass is thinning, yellowing, or dying in small patches, it may be suffering from a fungus. Take a close look at the affected area and look for signs of spores or mold. If you see any, take a sample of the affected grass to your local nursery or cooperative extension office for identification.

    How Long Does It Take Brown Patch To Go Away

    Scotts EZ Patch Lawn Repair For St. Augustine Lawns

    It can take two to three weeks for the grass to recover. If you have a lawn infestation, you should contact your lawn care professional to determine the extent of the problem.

    If you suspect that your grass is infected, it is important that you take steps to prevent the spread of this disease to other areas of your property.

    You can do this by removing the infected grass and replacing it with healthy grass, or you can apply a fungicide to the affected area to kill the fungus and prevent further spread.

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    Improve Soil Drainage In Your Lawn

    Fungi like to grow in wet conditions. Lawns that are poorly draining such as those established on clay soils may be susceptible to fungal infections. To prevent lawn fungus, core-aerate and dethatch your lawn regularly to encourage water to seep deep into the root zone.

    You can also prevent standing water in your lawn by removing debris like rocks and sticks that may prevent or slow down water from draining into the soil.

    How To Treat Brown Patches In Lawn

    Proper mowing, watering, and fertilising help limit the risk of fungus in grass. However, if you already have brown patches or other fungal issues, you need to address the problem to keep it from spreading.

    Some fungal diseases can continue to spread until they destroy a lawn. Use the following steps to treat the problem:

    • Use a fungicide to kill the fungus
    • Collect grass clippings when you mow
    • Avoid excess foot traffic on the lawn
    • Repeat the treatments if the fungus returns

    The fungal disease may not go away on its own. Apply a fungicide to kill the fungus and begin restoring the health of your grass.

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    Causes Of Brown Patch Disease

    Your lawn is more likely to suffer from fungal diseases under certain harsh weather conditions including high humidity and extreme precipitation. As such, homeowners in Coastal regions like Florida and California are more likely to experience brown patch disease on their lawns.

    In general, the common causes of brown patch disease in St. Augustine lawns are:

    • Prolonged periods of wetness especially in shaded areas .
    • Overfertilizing and overwatering your lawn.
    • Too much shade.

    Mild daytime temperatures of between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit and cool nights also provide perfect conditions for the spread of brown patch disease on St. Augustine lawns.

    Poor lawn maintenance also provides the perfect conditions for brown patch fungi to invade your lawn. Lawns that are scarcely watered during spring-summer and lawns that experience high-foot traffic leading to soil compaction are, thus, more likely to be infected with brown patch fungal disease.

    Brown Patch Fungus Active In St Augustine Grass Lawns

    How To Prevent Brown Patch Fungus in St. Augustine Grass

    October 26, 2005 by cmwood

    Brown Patch Fungus Active in St. Augustine Grass Lawns

    The day/night temperatures the past few weeks have favored development of the turfgrass fungal disease called Brown Patch. This disease of lawns is caused by a fungal pathogen, which has the scientific name of Rhizoctonia solani. Turfgrass affected by brown patch generally will exhibit circular or irregular patches of light brown, thinned grass. Under conditions that favor this disease, these patches can coalesce increasing the size of the affected area. Understanding this disease, which is all too common in the fall on St. Augustine grass, includes the following.

    How it looks and conditions that encourage development.

    What can be done to minimize Brown Patch?

    • Water infrequently, only as necessary to prevent wilt. Water early in the day to remove dew and allow the grass to dry quickly.
    • Avoid over fertilization in spring and fall.
    • Improve the lawn health and correct poorly drained areas to reduce damage caused by brown patch.
    • Fungicides to control Brown Patch are available to the home consumer at most garden centers. These products are most effective when used on a preventive basis . Multiple applications may be necessary. Always follow pesticide label directions.

    What to expect this fall, winter and next spring?

    David Chalmers, State Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Texas Cooperative Extension

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    Choose The Best St Augustine Grass Brown Patch Treatment

    The most effective lawn disease treatments contain Myclobutanil, Azoxystrobin, Chlorantraniliprole, or Propiconazole. Certain types of fungi can develop a defense mechanism against a particular fungicide over time, so it is recommended to change them periodically. But I still consider Dow AgroSciences Eagle 20EW to be the best at managing St Augustine grass brown patch. You can choose other items from my list as a replacement option. Remember, the key to success is the timely identification of a specific disease.

    Have you ever encountered a lawn disease? Which product was effective? Please share your personal lawn protection tips with other readers!

    Contents

    Want Faster Results Using Fungicide Early May Be Your Key

    Using fungicide early can be an effective way to control brown patch mold. There are many fungicides to chose from, and the one you chose will be largely dependent on what is available in your area, as well as the type of application that works best for you. Whichever fungicide you decide on, follow the instructions on the packaging. Most fungicides will need to be applied once or twice a month. For the best results, be certain to begin use fungicide at the first signs of brown patch fungus.

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    Causes Of Grass Fungus

    Now that we know how to treat the different types of St. Augustine fungus, lets look into what might be causing it to grow.

    If you remove the infection but leave the cause untouched you might find that the fungus comes back quickly, throwing you all the way back to square one again.

    Some causes are unavoidable, such as high humidity in the air or lots of rainfall. Areas with more extreme weather conditions are often more likely to experience St. Augustine fungus taking over their garden.

    It would be unreasonable to move to a completely different area just because of some grass fungi, right?

    However, some causes can be easily avoided with some simple steps. One of the most common causes of St. Augustine fungus is overfertilizing or overwatering. While you want to find the right balance between over- and under-watering, you must consider the dangers of the former.

    Do your research and make sure that youre not fertilizing your lawn more than the manufacturer of the fertilizer suggests. To get an even better idea of how much fertilizer and water to give your lawn, search the internet for answers that are specific to St. Augustine grass.

    Compact soil is another common cause of fungi on St. Augustine grass. To rectify this, you can aerate the soil beneath the grass to offer it a better drainage system. This will prevent water from pooling and having nowhere to go, offering a great breeding ground for the fungus to spawn.

    Insect Control Of St Augustine Grass

    Lawn Brown Patch Treatment

    Insect control measures are important for St. Augustine grass, which is vulnerable to chinch bugs. Chinch bugs are especially problematic for St. Augustine grass because they produce toxins that prevent grass roots from absorbing water properly. The result is the grass will die. Mole crickets can also be a problem for this type of grass. Keep an eye on your lawn to determine if insects are a problem. If so, you will need to apply an insecticide thats safe for St. Augustine grass.

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    Is It Granular Or Liquid

    This depends on your preferences. There are plenty of fungicides out there from both sides, granular and liquid. The working principle will be different for both types.

    If you are comfortable with granular fertilization, you can skip the liquid ones. But if you want something that can be done with less hassle, you can choose liquid fungicide.

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    How To Revive St Augustine Grass

    After applying needed treatments to your yard and eradicating your St. Augustine grass problem entirely, its time to get your grass growing again. By cutting your grass at higher lengths and only cutting it once every ten days, you can make your grass stronger. This practice helps the healthy grass protect the grass that has been damaged, allowing it time to grow and become healthy. When mowing the healthy parts of your lawn, leave your grass clippings instead of bagging them, so that you can bring nutrients back into the soil. Also, to reduce stress on your grass during your restoration efforts, restrict use or even stay off it entirely.

    As weve already mentioned, the single most important thing you can do, whether your grass is healthy or showing signs of a problem, is to create a lawn care maintenance schedule. You shouldnt just be concerned about how to keep your lawn green in summer heatthese fungi, weeds and bugs all have different seasons where they are most active so your lawn care should take these seasonal considerations into account.

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    Why Do I Have Brown Spots In My St Augustine Grass

    One possibility is that the grass is suffering from a nutrient deficiency, which can be caused by incorrect fertilization or poor soil quality. Another possibility is that the spots are the result of disease or pest infestation. If the spots are numerous and spreading quickly, it is best to consult a lawn care professional for diagnosis and treatment.

    Gray Leaf Spot On St Augustinegrass

    How to Treat Fungus in St. Augustine Grass

    Factsheet | HGIC 2151 | Aug 1, 2022 | |

    Gray leaf spot of St. Augustinegrass caused by Pyricularia grisea. Photo by Lane P. Tredway, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

    Gray leaf spot is a fungal disease that occurs most commonly on St. Augustinegrass , but occasionally may also be found infecting tall fescue, bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and ryegrass in home lawns. On St. Augustinegrass, the initial leaf spots are small and brown, but they expand rapidly into large, oval or elongate, tan to gray leaf spots, which are surrounded by purple or brown borders. A yellow halo may surround some of the spots, or a general leaf yellowing may occur.

    During warm, humid weather, the fungus produces a grayish mycelium and numerous spores on dying foliage, which gives a grayish appearance to the spots. Blades of grass will wither and die if leaf spots are numerous. Under favorable conditions for disease development, large areas of turf may appear to be scorched, resembling extreme drought stress.

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    What Is Brown Patch Disease

    Brown patch disease or large patch disease is a foliar condition caused by the Rhizoctonia Solani fungus. The fungus thrives primarily during mid to late summer when it is hot and humid. Its easier to notice augmented grass damage in the form of brown patches because of heat stress during this season.

    Rhizoctonia fungus stems from a central point. Brown patch disease spreads fast when it attacks your St. Augustine grass. It appears as brown circular areas, with dead grass circled in by a narrow dark ring most visible when theres dew on the grass. However, patches do not have to be circular. Patches combine to form irregular-shaped dead spots that die down to form sunken areas in your turf.

    Treat Brown Patch Disease

    Brown patch disease is a fungus that affects lawns when they remain wet for prolonged periods. If not prevented and treated on time, your lawn will develop brown patches of dead grass that might be difficult to revive.

    As soon as you see signs of brown patch disease in St. Augustine grass, start applying an Azoxystrobin fungicide such as Scotts DiseaseEx or Syngenta Heritage G thatll kill the fungus and revive your lawn.

    Heres a great video on how to treat brown patch disease and get St. Augustine grass to grow back greener.

    • St. Augustinegrass Yearly Maintenance Program
    • University of Maryland Extension:

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    Fungus In St Augustine Grass Causes

    What causes fungus in St. Augustine grass? If you are anything like us, your lawn is pretty important to you. We enjoy our lawns in many different ways, whether its relaxing in the back yard while our kids play in the grass, watching our pets run and play, or just enjoying the view out of the front window of our lush green lawns. As with anything that we consider important, caring for our lawns takes a high priority on our to-do list! If you are concerned that your St. Augustine grass might be infected with a disease or fungus dont wait. Its time to either call in a professional lawn service or try to DIY to remedy the problem.

    Here are the three most common causes of fungus in St. Augustine grass.

    1. Over-watering your lawn, or certain areas of your lawn, could be causing a lawn fungus to thrive! When you have standing water, it can promote the growth of a lawn fungus.

    2. Change in temperature is also a cause! The spring season is a big culprit for lawn fungus in St. Augustine because of all of the ups and downs in temperature. While we love to think of spring as a time of growth and blossoming , its also a good time to check your lawn for lawn fungus and lawn disease.

    3. The fungus can often spread from a neighboring lawn that is infected with a lawn fungus disease.

    St Augustine Grass Fungus Treatment

    IMAGE 32 oz. Ready

    Lets take a look at some of the ways that you can change your lawn care habits in order to optimize the health and growth of your St Augustine grass while also looking out for and/or treating any lawn fungus or diseases that could be infiltrating your yard.

    Are you trying to treat your lawn infected with a St Augustine fungus? Here are some of our pro tips that you may want to keep in mind when trying out treatments for St. Augustine grass fungus!

    This one can be tricky to master but so effective when trying to avoid fungus in your lawn! Lets talk about top tips for watering your grass in the most effective and efficient way so that you dont end up with any lawn fungus and you dont break the bank with your water bill. Sounds like a win-win, right?

    When watering your lawn, you want to make sure that you do not drench your yard to the point of pooling or building up standing water in any area. Standing water invites lawn fungi to move right in! In order to avoid pooling in your lawn, you will need to be very precise and strategic with your watering plan.

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    What Is The Cause Of Brown Patches

    Brown patch fungus is common in St Augustine Grass especially during the late fall and early spring months. Your brown patched lawn is the result of this fungus which thrives in moisture and cool conditions.

    You can avoid your lawn getting destroyed from this fungus with the right lawn maintenance of your St. Augustine grass.

    While most of the steps you need to take to prevent this fungus are things you would normally do to keep up your yard, but keep in mind that St. Augustine grass is a tad more sensitive.

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