In September we got hit very hard with rain at the beginning of the month. Temperatures dipped down into the 70s at night. Large patch fungus will thrive in these conditions. The good news is that daytime temperatures hit 90 degrees. At this temperature the fungus is no longer active. Effected turf will grow back out as the pathogen does not effect stolons or roots. If you happened to notice brown to yellow circles popping up in your lawn over night you may have the pathogen in the soil. It is very important to cut back on watering and fertilizer immediately. Take full advantage of the fact that daytime temperatures have temporarily suppressed the fungus and give the lawn a chance to recover. Watering more will only accelerate the fungus.
The most common question regarding large patch is "Why do I have it?". A pathogen in the soil is the cause. The pathogen is there year round, but dormant. The fungus only becomes active when conditions allow for it. Temperatures dipping into the 70s and heavy rainfall will cause the fungus to show itself. You can keep it from appearing by watering less or not at all. Raking out affected leaf blades will also reduce the unsightly appearance. When we run your lawn care service we will apply fungicides to active fungus. Our fungicides will suppress the fungus but new turf will not fill back in until we have a period of rapid growth. Putting down new sod will not be effective because the pathogen is in the soil. It is also not necessary as the turf will recover on its own during the next growth period.
Large patch fungus will appear in circles or rings. The turf will easily be removed when you grab and pull up on it. It will feel as though it was not attached to the stolons. Sheaths will appear rotted. The fungus is unsightly but is only temporary. It will go away when we get a hard freeze and recover during the next period of growth. If you are unsure whether you have the fungus or another problem feel free to give us a call and we will set up a service call at no charge.
