11 Jul Brown Patch: A Quick Guide

I often get calls this time of year from people not sure what is going on with their lawn. Everything seems to be in order, but their lawn is experiences patches of “dead” grass.

Here in North Carolina, as the summer temperatures and humidity begin to rise, the conditions are set for lawns to be susceptible to Brown Patch. Brown Patch is a disease that affects turf-grass and is caused by fungus. The main symptom of it is… you guessed it, a brown patch of grass in your lawn.

How your lawn manifests Brown Patch can vary based on how your lawn is maintained, but in general it appears as a round patch of brown grass anywhere from a few inches to a few feet in circumference.

Alright, now that we have the basics out of the way, I am going to hand things off the the NC State Extension. As, we have talked about in previous posts, your local Extension is a great tool and rather than me wasting the time to repeat what they have already said, I’ll just let them say it:

Good stuff, huh? Well now that we have a strong understanding of what brown patch is and some of the treatments available, let’s talk about prevention. Below are a five keys to preventing brown patch before it can get going.

Key #1 – Water Early And Not Too Much

As we learned, heat and humidity create a perfect breeding ground for the funguses that cause brown patch. To help prevent that environment, it is ideal to water your lawn early in the morning.

Watering early gives your grass the water it needs, but allows it to dry in the sun helping to minimize the moisture level on the turf.

Giving your lawn the right amount of water is also important to keeping the moisture level right in your lawn. Too much at watering time and your lawn won’t be able to dry out and once again we are dealing with our dreaded brown patch.

Key #2 – Take It Easy On The Nitrogen

As we learned from the extension, applying too much nitrogen in the late spring and early summer will create new growth that is ideal for brown patch fungus to jump on and enjoy.

Key #3 – Build Your Lawn For Success

Everything is connected. The way your lawn is graded and the surrounding landscaping affects the way your lawn drains and drys in the sun.

Fixing any grading and drainage issues and making sure that surrounding landscaping or trees are pruned properly will allow your lawn to drain off and evaporate excess water.

Key #4 – Let It Drain

A compacted soil surface is not going to drain well. Aeration in the fall in high traffic areas will help reduce the compaction and keep drainage working well.

Key #5 – Preventative Chemical Application

Chemical applications to help prevent brown patch can be an important tool in keeping your lawn in great shape. I know not everyone is excited about chemicals on their lawn or generally in their life, but it is a tool to have.

If you have any questions about brown patch or anything else I might be able to help you with your lawn, please shoot me a message. I’d be happy to help.