Achieving the lawn of your dreams can be a frustrating and challenging endeavor, especially when unforeseen issues take you and your turf by surprise. One such issue is the fungal lawn disease known as large patch. This disease can cause significant damage to turfgrasses, affecting their aesthetic appeal and overall health.
Large patch is a fungal disease caused by a pathogen known as Rhizoctonia solani. Knowing how to spot this disease as early as possible when it appears in your lawn is the key to preventing serious damage to your grass. This guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to keep your turf free of this disease. Let’s take a closer look at large patch and what you can do to get rid of it!
Early detection of large patch is crucial for effective management. The disease typically begins as small, circular patches of discolored grass, which can range from a few inches to several feet in diameter. As the infection progresses, these patches may expand and coalesce, forming irregularly shaped areas of dead or dying grass. The affected grass within these patches often appears yellow, orange, or reddish-brown and can easily be pulled away from the soil due to the rotting of the leaf sheaths.
In addition to the distinctive patches, other symptoms of large patch include a slimy, dark-colored growth on the grass stems and leaf sheaths, particularly under moist conditions. In severe cases, the entire lawn may take on a patchy, blighted appearance, severely compromising its aesthetic and functional value.
Key Characteristics:
Brown patch (also known as brown spot) and large patch are both fungal diseases caused by species of the genus Rhizoctonia, but they affect different types of turfgrasses and occur under varying conditions. Brown patch primarily affects cool-season grasses, such as perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and fescues. This disease typically manifests during the warm, humid conditions of summer, especially when nighttime temperatures remain above 60°F and there is high humidity or prolonged leaf wetness. Brown patch symptoms include circular patches of brown, dead grass that can range from a few inches to a foot in diameter. These patches often exhibit a distinctive "smoke ring" of dark, water-soaked grass at the outer edge, particularly in the early morning when dew is present.
In contrast, large patch affects warm-season turfgrasses like Zoysiagrass, Centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and Bermudagrass, and it is most active during the cooler, moist conditions of spring and fall when soil temperatures range between 50°F and 70°F. The symptoms of large patch are somewhat similar to those of brown patch, with circular patches of discolored grass that can be up to 3 or 4 feet in diameter. However, large patch primarily damages the leaf sheaths at the base of the grass plants rather than the leaves themselves. The affected grass often appears yellow, orange, or reddish-brown and can be easily pulled away from the soil due to the rotting of the leaf sheaths. Thus, while both diseases are caused by similar pathogens and exhibit comparable patchy symptoms, they target different types of turfgrasses and thrive under different environmental conditions.
Understanding the conditions that promote large patch development is essential for effective prevention and management. Rhizoctonia solani thrives in cool, wet environments, making spring and fall the peak seasons for large patch outbreaks. Several factors can contribute to the development and spread of this disease:
Large patch does not typically kill grass directly. Instead, as previously mentioned, it primarily affects the leaf sheaths at the base of the grass plants, causing them to rot and detach easily from the soil. This damage disrupts the grass's ability to transport water and nutrients, leading to the visible symptoms of discolored, dying patches of grass. While the grass itself may not die immediately, the extensive damage to the leaf sheaths and the plant's weakened state can make it more susceptible to other stresses and secondary infections.
If left untreated, large patch can severely compromise the overall health and aesthetic quality of the lawn, potentially leading to long-term decline and eventual death of the affected turf if favorable conditions for the disease persist.
Effective prevention of large patch involves a combination of lawn care practices that work to improve both the condition of the soil and the health of the grass in your lawn. Though large patch and other lawn diseases can strike at any moment, healthier lawns are at a lower risk of being infected, and they are better equipped to repair and replenish themselves if they are infected. Below are some of the best lawn care practices for large patch prevention.
Large patch is a common but manageable lawn disease in Georgia. Proper lawn care can go a long way in preventing and controlling this disease, but professional assistance is recommended if infected areas begin to appear widespread across your lawn. In these cases, fungicides may be necessary to control large patch. Products containing active ingredients such as azoxystrobin, flutolanil, and propiconazole have proven effective, but they should be administered by professionals like us to ensure safety and efficacy.
If you need help controlling lawn disease on your Georgia property, be sure to call Pro Outdoor Landscape Management today!
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