Bermuda Grass Dead Patches May Be Fungal Or Winter
- BILL SEVIER Ask a Master Gardener
- May 28, 2011
Q: Most of my Bermuda lawn has greened up, but I have some patches that appear dead. What causes that, and what should I do? Glen, Jenks
Dead-looking patches in Bermuda lawns in spring are usually either the disease Spring Dead Spot or winter-kill related to excessive low temperatures.
Bermuda is a warm-season grass imported from Africa – it loves the heat. In winter it goes dormant as a defense to the cold. Cold tolerance varies with the varieties and if exceeded, the grass dies. Winter-kill patches are random, irregular and often have some small sprigs of new growth amongst the dead. These patches do not carry over from year to year and will usually fill in over the summer.
Spring Dead Spot is a fungal disease that kills Bermuda. It attacks the grass in the fall when the soil temperature drops to about 70. It kills Bermuda in patches as the rest of the lawn is browning with winter dormancy. The disease damage is not apparent until the following spring when the SDS spots fail to green up. These patches recur in the same spots and enlarge from year to year.
The pattern of recurrent spots in the same area is helpful in deciding if you are dealing with SDS or winter-kill. An additional clue suggesting SDS is that roots and stems of diseased grass are thickened and black compared to slender tan-brown healthy roots.
Original Print Headline: Two culprits can cause dead patches
Mow The Diseased Parts
Grass fungus spreads quickly, which is why mowing is a suitable solution to control it. When mowing, pay attention to the infected parts. Remove the grass clippings, fallen leaves, or debris that could be sitting on your lawn. Dont leave the grass clippings as they still carry live fungi that may spread to the rest of the grass.
On the other hand, mowing the diseased parts is only effective if the infestation is still fresh. Prolonged fungus infestation might need other control measures before mowing.
What Is Bermuda Grass
Bermudagrass is a warm season grass that is heat and drought resistant, flourishing in full sunlight. The turf originated in Africa then traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and is believed to have made its way to the United States from Bermuda, hence its name. Since landing in America, it has become one of the most prevalent grass types in the southern United States.
Bermuda grass grows quickly, which makes its sod and seed less expensive than other turf types. However, quick growing also means more frequent mowing, one downside of Bermuda grass.
Blades of natural Bermuda grass are thick and flat. Bermuda grass stems spread rapidly thanks to rhizomes and stolons. Rhizomes are runners that grow below ground while stolons grow above ground. Both are stems that produce shoots of grass. Because the rhizomes and stolons can spread far, Bermudagrass can quickly invade flower beds and gardens.
The blades of hybrid types of Bermuda grass may be finer and thinner, but all Bermuda is recognizable by its color.
The grass is bright green or gray-green as it grows but will brown quickly once it goes dormant. Bermuda will go dormant once temperatures cool in the fall faster than other warm-season grasses and stay dormant longer. The grass should green up after significant rain in the spring once temperatures reach 60-65 degrees and higher.
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Most Common Bermuda Grass Diseases
- Large patch sometimes referred to as brown patch. This fungus will cause brown, thinning grass in a circle. As the disease spreads over the season, grass may recover in the middle. This large donut-shaped appearance is an identifiable characteristic of large patch.
- Dollar spot. Another fungus that will cause spots on the leaves that eventually spread across the entire blade. Blades of grass will have a smoky-brown appearance and appear to look dead. Dollar spots will typically be 2-6 in diameter. In heavily infested yards, these small spots may grow together appearing as one. If the spots get large enough, you may have areas of grass recover in the middle, having a donut-shaped appearance.
- Spring dead spot. A fungus that attacks roots, rhizomes, and stolons of Bermuda grass. Affected parts of the grass will appear black and rotted. Even Though spring dead spot does not typically kill the lawn directly, it will make it more susceptible to freezing temperatures. Damage will not be recognized until affected areas fail to turn green in the spring. Spring dead spot can be easily identified by pulling up some brown areas and checking the roots\rhizomes\stolons. In many situations, grass will recover throughout the summer, however may be susceptible again in the winter.
Causes Of Brown Patch
The Rhizoctonia fungus may be present for some time in the soil before it manifests as brown patch disease. The fungus overwinters in the lawn grass or soil beneath in the form of fungal bodies known as sclerotia, and it can survive for years until conditions are right. Rhizoctonia is most likely to cause brown patch during the periods of high temperature and high humidity in mid- to late-summer when night-time temperatures remain above 68 degrees F and daytime temperatures are routinely in the 80s or above. Periods of rainy weather when the air is saturated with moisture also promote the appearance of the disease.
In addition to heat and humidity, the main factors inviting brown patch are excessive nitrogen and irrigation, which means that very lush and green lawns can be susceptible to brown patch. Other causal factors include lack of air movement, poor soil drainage, excessive thatch, and compacted soils, which means that poorly maintained lawns can also be prone to brown patch disease.
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Diagnosing The 7 Most Common Bermuda Grass Problems
Bermuda grass can make some of the most beautiful lawns with very limited maintenance. Theres a reason that golf courses and homeowners alike choose Bermuda as their grass of choice. However, problems will pop up from time to time, therefore it is important to be able to easily recognize issues before they become major. Our easy guide will allow you to quickly diagnose and treat some of the most common Bermuda grass problems.
Time To Identify And Cure Your Lawn Disease
With a firm grasp of the various grass fungi and the diseases they cause, you can now scout your yard effectively and sniff out these diseases. In most cases, quick action is essential, so use this new understanding to get a quick jump on these fungi and diseases before they ruin your gorgeous turf.
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Centipedegrass Fungus Effective Control
Q: What is the best thing I can do to control centipedegrass fungus effectively? This past summer was a nightmare. My lawn company tried to treat it with liquid fungicide and the fungus came right back. I got some granular fungicide and the grass survived through the summer. What can I do to avoid a repeat performance?
A: The key is to correctly identify the fungus and to be absolutely SURE the problem is caused by a fungus, not overwatering or mowing too high. In my experience, centipedegrass rarely needs irrigation and it is often mowed higher than the recommended one and one-half inches. Either of these can cause centipede decline.
Lawn fungicides are not equal some chemicals control some diseases and some products control others. If your company mis diagnosed your problem that could explain why their treatment failed.
I can sometimes identify fungal problems by their described symptoms. Occasionally, though, symptoms are confused with problems caused by environmental conditions that no amount of fungicide can fix.Your best bet is to closely follow the centipedegrass maintenance instructions at the University of Georgias Centipede Lawn page. Wait until the first disease symptoms occur next year, then take a sample to your local Extension office 897-6261) to be sent to the UGA plant pathology lab.
I know this seems like a lot of trouble, but if you want to get to the bottom of the situation, its the course you have to follow.
Water Your Lawn Early In The Morning Hours
If youve been waiting until the last minute of the day to water your lawn, the soil will retain the water throughout the night. Harmful fungi tend to grow and multiply quickly in waterlogged soils. It needs moisture to survive.
The only way to ensure the soil absorbs enough water to encourage root growth and encourage photosynthesis is by watering your lawn in the early morning hours. Its during this period that the sun isnt extremely scorching.
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Bonus Pro Tip: How To Make A Diy Water Gauge:
Take a clean, empty tuna size can and set it in your yard. Run your sprinklers on their current setting. Once theyre done with their cycle, take a ruler, and measure how much water is in the can. If it says anything over 1 to 1.5 inches, you may be overwatering your lawn! This can lead to the development of one of the pesky lawn fungi that we have been talking about. No, thanks! With this information, adjust your watering settings to ensure your lawn is being quenched without pooling. Using this water gauge test can also determine if your sprinklers are properly covering the areas of your lawn. Some sections of your lawn could be getting too much water, and other areas may not have enough water.
Finding the right fungicide treatment for your lawn can be a crucial step in tackling a St. Augustine grass fungus! Fungicide treatments help to stop the disease in its tracks. When you apply a fungicide treatment to your lawn, it stops or kills the fungus causing the lawn disease. Applying a fungicide treatment can help you control the spread of the St. Augustine lawn fungus before it infects more of your yard, as well as controlling the disease where it has already infected your lawn. There are many fungicide treatments on the market, and some treatments are only available to professionals. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, give us a call at Weedex, and we can take care of it for you! 727-9207
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More On How To Prevent Fungal Diseases
The fungi that cause fungal diseases are always present in your soil. So there is no way to treat, kill, or remove all of the offending fungi. Instead, you need to use appropriate cultural practices to reduce the likelihood of latent fungi becoming a fungal disease. Fungi can lay dormant in your lawn for months or years, and they will only become a problem under the right conditions.
Fungi take advantage of two conditions: high nitrogen and lots of water. To avoid fungal infections, you need to prevent these two conditions. Dont over-fertilize. Using too much nitrogen fertilizer will do nothing for your grass, but it will feed the harmful fungi. Also, be sure not to overwater your turf. The best time to water is in the morning, so the grass has time to dry during the heat of the day. Avoid watering in the evening or at night. Also, make sure to let the ground dry out between waterings. It is better to water less frequently and deeper so that the soil does not remain saturated, and the roots are encouraged to grow deep to access more water. Aim to water no more than once a week. The soil should be moist five to seven inches deep after watering.
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Very Impressed With Their Service
We have been using Problem Solved Pest Control for a couple years now and are very impressed with their service and professionalism. They always call ahead to let us know when they will be at our home and are very knowledgeable about the treatment of our lawn, trees, and shrubs. If we have any issues arise they are very quick to respond and help to correct the concern.
What Is Gray Powder Fungus On Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is desired because of its ability to tolerate a wide variety of soil types and textures, its heat and drought tolerance and its quick growth. One of the most significant drawbacks to growing Bermuda grass is that it turns brown just after the first frost and remains brown until spring. It also has a tendency to form thick thatch layers and is more susceptible to fungal pathogens when grown in the shade. Finally, Bermuda grass is considered invasive within some of the regions of its U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 10. The gray powder fungus on Bermuda grass is most likely powdery mildew.
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Learn How Long Fungicide Take To Work
Grass takes 24 hours to 48 hours to startcome outing from Fungicide sometimes its takes more than 3 days to recovers bare spots dead grass algae and fungus-like brown patches. You need to continue your effort and application excellently fungicides at least 3 times in two weeks. This will be helping you to recover your grass-like green lawn.
Will Lawn Fungus Go Away On Its Own
Unfortunately, lawn fungus will not disappear if left untreated. The most effective way to manage yard fungus is to use a fungicide and practice good turf management. Fungicides are designed to inhibit energy production at the cellular level and to harm cell membranes, which eventually kills the fungi that is attacking your grass. As with any type of pesticide, homeowners should do their research to identify the type of fungicide needed to manage a particular type of lawn fungus and make sure solutions are applied carefully and according to manufacturer instructions. Make sure to avoid overusing fungicide to prevent additional damage to your grass. If you are unsure about how to correctly apply treatments, contact a trusted pest professional.
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Will My Grass Recover By Fungus
Yes, Grass cover after fungus in 14 to 24 days. It takes time to recover his roots and leaf after applying fungicides or Remedies like Baking Soda neem oil . Removal of all fungus and bare spots possible on grass but there always some damages left in the soil and under roots due to healthy fungus attacked. Must Reduce the implementation of reseeding process where mostly bare spots exist.
How To Treat 5 Common Lawn Diseases
At one time or another, we all deal with grass pains. The distress signal from our lawn seems to get louder in heat, humidity, and rain. From crabgrass to brown spots, thereâs a variety of lawn diseases that could be killing the grass. Some require a professional to diagnose them while others give off tell-tale signs, making them easy to identify. Once you identify them, treating lawn diseases is easy.
Some lawn diseases can point to a more serious issue, such as poor drainage or pests on your property. The best defense against any fungal disease is a good offense with proper lawn care.
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Apply Calcium To Lower Ph
The right pH balance for lawn soils should range between 6.2-6.8, but that doesnt mean they dont need calcium. Calcium helps the grass to resist diseases , absorb other micro-nutrients, and build strong cell walls. If you test your soil for calcium and it indicates a deficiency, apply calcium immediately.
Will Dollar Spot Fungus Go Away On Its Own
If temperatures rise above 85 and the lawn is not excessively moist, then dollar spot fungus will die out. However, dont count on mother nature to wipe out the fungus. It can do a lot of damage to your green lawn before summer temperatures stop it.
In some cases, dollar spot fungus may linger throughout the summer in shady areas with high soil moisture, then explode into life again in fall, causing a second invasion. Rather than wait for it to come back, attack the dollar spot early to kill it.
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Apply The Right Lawn Care Practices
Fungi thrive in moist environments and can spread quickly when lawn care malpractices like under/over-fertilization and overwatering. Once youve successfully eliminated them, apply these two fungi preventative tips:
- Only water your grass in the morning hours and if the soil feels dry. Overwatering makes water to stay on the leaf surface for too long, providing a conducive environment for fungi.
- Replenish your lawn with nitrogen during heavy rains. Too much rain leaches away nitrogen and can lead to turf yellowing and weakening.
The Bermuda Grass Information Guide
You don’t have to travel far to see Bermuda grass – it’s one of the most popular turf types in the United States! If you live in a warm climate, chances are you have Bermuda in your yard or have seen Bermuda grass on athletic fields and golf courses. Use this guide to confirm you do indeed have Bermuda grass, learn how to care for it, and how to prevent the most common weeds and diseases that affect this bright, beautiful turf.
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Preventive Fungicides: How They Work
Contact fungicides are sometimes called residual fungicides. This term describes the ability of these products to remain on the plant surface for several days after application. During this period, they offer continued protection against fungi. They are therefore prophylactic against a number of fungi species that cause lawn diseases.
The preventive benefits offered to plants remain as long as the fungicide doesnt get degraded by environmental elements such as sunlight or washed off by irrigation, wind, or rain. Repeated applications are therefore essential to ensure that the fungicide stays on the plant and continues to provide protection from fungi.