From green to brown what is the cause?
Harmful diseases causes and treatments
Besides having to deal with the heat and humidity of Georgia there’s also various lawn diseases that thrive in these types of environments. From fungal infections to viral and bacterial diseases, homeowners often find themselves combating a range of challenges to maintain a healthy and vibrant lawn. Sometimes it does take a little money and a little patience to help bring it back to life or get to the root of the problem, but there is always some type of solution to resolve these issues. Also keep in mind that the soil, the shading, and the surroundings have a lot to play in keeping up with your lawns and how they look so doing a little bit of research can go a long way.
The different grass spots and their cures
Brown spot lawn disease presents as circular or irregularly shaped patches of discolored grass in lawns, ranging from a few inches to several feet in diameter. The affected grass appears light green or yellow, gradually progressing to a tan or brown color. The edges of these patches are often well-defined, with a distinct border between the healthy and diseased area. Within the affected patches, individual grass blades may exhibit lesions or dark spots, particularly at the base where they meet the soil. Also, you should improve the air circulation by aerating and pruning the trees and shrubs. Lastly avoid excessive nitrogen related fertilization.
Large patch affects warm-season turf-grass and brown spot affects cool-season types, making large patch the more common of the two in Georgia. Large patch is caused by the same fungus as brown spot, but there are some key differences in appearance between the two. Large patch typically manifests as large, irregularly shaped patches of discolored grass, ranging from a few feet to several yards in diameter. The affected grass turns yellowish or bronze in color, often with a reddish tint, before turning tan or brown as the disease progresses. Unlike the circular patches of brown spot, large patch patches have less defined edges, with a gradual transition from the diseased to the healthy grass. Improve the soil drainage to prevent water-logging and avoid excessive thatch buildup through regular de-thatching.
Dollar spot, a common fungal disease affecting lawns in Georgia, is characterized by small circular patches that resemble silver dollars scattered across the grass. These spots typically range from the size of a silver dollar to that of a quarter. They appear as straw- colored or light tan areas with a reddish-brown border, giving the lawn a patchy and uneven appearance. Upon closer inspection, affected grass blades within these spots exhibit characteristic lesions or markings, initially appearing water-soaked before turning straw-colored or bleached. Increase nitrogen fertilization to promote grass recovery and improve the soil drainage to reduce moisture levels.
Leaf spot is another common fungal disease found in Georgia lawns, causing distinctive symptoms on grass blades. It appears as small, circular to irregularly shaped spots or lesions on the leaves of grass plants. These spots may vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. They appear dark green in color, but as the disease spreads, they may turn brown or tan around the edges of the spots. The centers of the spots may dry out and become papery, giving them a “shot hole” appearance. Improve soil drainage to prevent water-logging and practice proper lawn maintenance to reduce stress on the grass.
Take-all root rot is a fungal disease that primarily affects warm-season grasses, making it common foe of lawns in Georgia. Visually, take-all root rot presents as irregularly shaped patches of discolored or dying grass in the lawn. Affected areas may display a yellowing or thinning of the turf that turns into a yellow or brown color as the disease advances. One of the keys identifying traits of take-all root tot is the appearance of dark, rotted roots in infected plants, along with decay of the crawl. Turf-grass will start to die off if this disease is not controlled due to the damaged roots being unable to absorb nutrients from the soil.
