Tips for Treating Brown Patch Disease
Brown patch is a fungal disease that can affect several types of lawns. Here are some tips for treating brown patch.
The disease starts with small unattractive patches, and can quickly spread to larger areas. As the fungus spreads, it can form a large circle. Sometimes the inside areas of the circle can recover and turn green, while the outside part of the ring stays yellow and looks wilted. This disease spreads easily in humid weather and affects different types of grass, including Kentucky Bluegrass, Bermuda, St. Augustine, Bentgrass, Centipede and some type of ryegrass. It is most common during the spring and the fall, when the climate is humid and night temperatures can be cool.
An easy way to prevent and treat this fungus is to water your garden early in the morning and then leave it, so that the morning dew escapes and moisture is reduced. When mowing a lawn that has been affected by fungus, always get rid of all the clippings so that the disease will not spread. Choose the correct fertilizer to your lawn and to your soil type, and make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You may have to use a fungicide to get rid of brown patch. Some of the most commonly used are chlorothalonil and benomyl.
One way of preventing the disease is to plant your garden shrubs and trees far apart from each other, so that there are no areas where too much shade and moisture can create breeding grounds for fungal diseases. Make sure that all parts of the garden get some sunlight and if you find that the lawn is infected, you can try cutting some of the foliage to let more light through.
Always ask for professional advice before buying fungicides and make sure you choose the right products for each lawn type.