Troubleshooting Tips

The best way to control diseases in any type of lawn is to keep it healthy and well-maintained. Water, mow and feed your lawn as necessary and problems will rarely develop. If problems do develop, the following checklist may be helpful.

SMALL BROWN PATCHES: Small brown spots or circles in an otherwise green lawn are usually caused by Brown Patch or Dollar Spot. Dollar Spot and Brown Patch are fungal diseases that often appear in lawns that are stressed by our summer weather conditions, including high humidity and/or drought. To control these diseases, treat your lawn with an appropriate fungicide, according to package directions. Once the disease is brought under control, make sure that your lawn is properly watered and maintained throughout the growing season. 
 
BROWN STREAKS OR IRREGULAR BROWN PATCHES: This problem is generally caused by uneven fertilizer application. Too much fertilizer in any one area can cause burning. Time usually takes care of the problem. To prevent the problem in the future, try not to overlap the rows as you spread your fertilizer. 
 
BROWNING OF THE ENTIRE LAWN: Too little water is usually the culprit.   Fescue grass is especially susceptible to our hot, dry summers. If your grass has a gray appearance or doesn't spring back when you step on it, it needs a deep, thorough watering. 
 
AREAS OF DEAD TURF THAT CAN EASILY BE LIFTED: You can blame this problem on beetle grubs. When temperatures warm up, beetle grubs begin feeding on the roots of the grass. If you notice these grubs, treat your lawn with an appropriate insecticide or milky spore powder. Allowing the grubs to reach adulthood can bring even more problems. Adult Japanese Beetles are insatiable eaters and can damage the leaves and flowers on many of the plants in your landscape. Fewer grubs mean healthier grass and fewer destructive beetles. 
 
THINNING TURF: Too much shade. All types of grass need a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day to thrive. If you have an area that receives less than six hours of sunlight, consider planting a shade-tolerant ground cover instead of grass.