You Are Here: Management Updates 2000 Archive July 15, 2000

Date: July 15, 2000
Category: Diseases
Subject: Drought, Anthracnose, Brown Patch, Fairy Ring, Pythium

The most common complaint this week was DROUGHT SYMPTOMS on golf courses, athletic fields, and lawns. After nearly daily rain in June, the recent stretches of cool, but dry and sometimes windy, air highlight the problems areas of compaction and/or heavy thatch. Other common disease reports include ANTHRACNOSE, BROWN PATCH, and FAIRY RING. Brown patch can pop up quickly in hot, humid weather, especially with high nitrogen fertility and late afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Luckily, the very cool nights that have followed the brief hot spells will eliminate brown patch activity.

The most common causes of LOSS OF NEW OR YOUNG TURF are Rhizoctonia (brown patch) and Pythium. Both fungi are in every soil will attack vulnerable, young turfgrass plants. Pythium is most common when turf is too wet. You can sometimes tell which fungus is active by the mycelium color, but Rhizoctonia can look quite white in wet conditions when it is growing quickly. Only a microscope can differentiate them for certain. Fungicides are not usually effective in saving infected seedlings. Overseeding is the best approach. Once turf has matured, it is not longer so susceptible.

- Submitted by: Dr. Gail Schumann