Brown Patch

The symptoms of Brown Patch vary greatly depending on weather conditions and condition of the affected lawn turf.

Generally, on closely mown lawn turf, water soaked patches a few centimetres in diameter can be seen. These patches are brown to straw coloured and can increase in diameter as the disease takes hold.

Usually only the leaf is affected but in a severe attack the entire lawn turf grass plant can be killed. The disease is only damaging during warm, humid weather.

The best approach to preventing the development of brown patches in lawn turf is proper turf care.

In summary, the following suggestions should get you started:                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mow your lawn properly. Tall grass stays wet a long time each day, and this is ideal for disease development. If you have brown patches in your lawn turf, try and mow the lawn when it is dry, not wet. This will reduce the spread of disease. Fertilise your lawn properly.

Brown patches caused by fungi will vary in terms of how they respond to fertiliser: Some attack when fertiliser is low, and others when it is too high. The best recommendation is to fertilise your turf just enough to support good growth.

Water your lawn turf and make sure that it drains well. Fungi need water to attack your lawn turf. The longer your law turf is wet, the more brown patches will develop. Soil that does not drain well will stay wet longer and cause your lawn turf to grow poorly. If your soil puddles for hours after a rainfall, it may be compacted.

Fungicides can also be used to control the foliar diseases that cause brown patches.

Brown Patch can be prevented by regular scarification to reduce the water holding thatch in your lawn. See SCARIFICATION for more details.