In tall fescue, singlegene resistance to brown patch has. The fungus survives in thatch and turf debris between active periods. My epm guy told us we have brown patch in our fescue. Selection of a tall fescue variety with a high level of brown patch resistance. Extended dew periods and nighttime irrigations favor disease activity. No one in the charlotte, nc, area wants to see ugly splotches on their lawn, but it unfortunately happens. Bermudagrass,perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue are common brown patch targets. Titan rx turf type tall fescue grass seed is the 4th generation titan variety. Developing genetic resistance is a viable long term control strategy. Tall fescue, kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye are the primary turfgrass hosts.
Varieties of tall fescue vary widely in their susceptibility to brown patch. State trial plots control of brown patch in tall fescue with. Resistant material has been returned to the usda and this material is being field established to determine its utility for use for improving tall fescue brown patch resistance. Fescue grass is a popular coolseason grass for home lawns. Symptoms can be confused with those of drought stress. It always starts with brown spots, then progresses to just dead patches all over. These types of grasses are generally known for their yearround green color, drought resistance, and shade tolerance. I am in ne south carolina right in the transition zone and. For any type of lawn disease, choosing diseaseresistant grass varieties.
Brown patch treatment guide how to get rid of brown. The most common and important disease of tall fescue in this region is brown patch, caused by the fungus rhizoctonia solani. Scorpion is a new and improved heat and disease resistant tall fescue variety developed for superior turf quality across a wide area of adaptation. Lawn problem solver brown patches central sod farms. This kentucky fescue is a low maintenance seed and is designed for tough conditions like heat and drought and is brown patch resistant. Tall fescue is frequently the species of choice for sod production, sports turf, and residential lawns.
Is there a tried and true tall fescue variety that truly has a high resistance to brown patch. This project was monitored by a site visit in 2008. The fungus overwinters as small, hard, brown to black resting bodies sclerotia that are resistant to cold, heat, drought and chemicals. Pythium blight, caused by pythium aphanidermatum, also damages tall fescue during hot, wet, summer weather, but is not as common as brown patch in the northern transition zone.
Some of this is due to the fact that what we accept, and even expect, as desirable tall fescue lends itself to increased disease pressure. Andrew hamblin at the university of illinois to study brown patch resistance in tall fescue. Bp106w turfgrass disease profiles purdue extension. Please provide a specific brand of fescue or a comparison chart. Rhizoctonia brown patch is a common fungal disease of all turf grasses. Turn to diseaseresistant turfgrass to combat brown patch.
Nc state turf grass pathologist interview explains brown patch fungus in tall fescue turf grass. Its a vigorous variety that quickly covers to form a dense compact. Though all cool season grasses can be impacted, turf type tall fescues are the most susceptible to brown patch, and that is why turf merchants is continuously infecting our next generation clones with the current strain of rhizoctonia species fungus to keep our varieties up to date with state of the art resistance. The titans are well known and valued for providing durable attractive turf, even when conditions are less than ideal. Brown patch is a fungal disease that affects many types of grass, but can be more severe on tall fescue, bentgrass types, and perennial ryegrass.
Choosing tall fescue cultivars with more resistance to brown patch, refer to. Plant diseaseresistant varieties and seed mixtures. Tall fescue as a species is susceptible to brown patch, and as a result all of the varieties within that species are susceptible with a minimal range of differences among varieties. What brands of tall fescue are the most resistant to brown. I can not tell you scientifically which grass varieties are less likely to get brown patch disease. Tall fescue festuca arundinacea is widely used in the transition zone because it has relatively good drought and heat tolerance and is easy to establish from seed. Its dense turf canopy is slower growing, yet has improved resistance to diseases including brown patch, pythium, and grey leaf spot.
If you decide to reseed, he suggests you choose a tall fescue cultivar that is a bit more resistant to brown patch. Annual bluegrass poa annua, and tall fescue festuca arundinacea. There are few differences in brown patch resistance among varieties of bluegrass, ryegrass, or bentgrass. Top rated tall fescue, high ntep performing tall fescue, turf type tall fescue, brown patch resistant, best tall fescue, prime time tall fescue. Controlling brown patch in tall fescue lawns turf magazine. How to identify and control brown patch pennington. Many resistant cultivars are not desirable as turfgrasses due to excessive leaf width 11. Titan rx turftype tall fescue is the 4th generation titan variety. The most common of these splotches is known as brown patch, which occurs on lawns planted with tall fescue, the most popular coolseason grass in north carolina here are answers to five questions you may have about that pesky disease known as brown patch. Ky31 fescue has more resistance to brown patch than all turfgrass tall fescue cultivars.
In addition to providing excellent traffic resistance, fesnovas fine blades and dense canopy helps reduce poa annua and weed infestation. Both contain turfgrass species that are resistant to summer patch, plus a fertilizer designed to make soil more acidic, which can. Inheritance characteristics of brown patch resistance in. Brown patch is a turfgrass common disease that is caused by the rhizoctonia species fungus. It is a summer disease that, while it will brown your grass and make it unattractive, will generally not kill your turf completely and is not difficult to control. Brown patch disease is a condition caused by a single species of fungus, rhizoctonia, that often occurs in mid to latesummer when the weather is hot and humid. The best new tool for sharpening a lawn mower blade. Earth carpets newest 4way blends of 100% turftype tall fescues feature high resistance to brown patch. The fungal disease is capable of killing tall fescue during extended.
Scorpion is a moderately fine textured tall fescue with excellent wear tolerance. Although tall fescue is the recommended turf variety for maryland lawns most. This article discusses managing brown patch and a kansas state study done this disease. I am looking for the highestrated fescue that has the best resistance to brown patch under georgia conditions. Some lawn problems are easier to handle than others. Brown patch affects all commonly cultivated coolseason turfgrasses. Brown patch fungus identification what does brown patch. Brown patch resistant turfgrass l tmi turf merchants. Brown patch is a debilitating fungal disease that causes large, circular dead areas on the lawns of millions of homeowners each year. Reduce the amount of time the grass blades are wet.
Brown patch in turf nc state extension publications. Moderately resistant cultivars of perennial ryegrass, kentucky bluegrass, and tall fescue are available. Brown patch is primarily a midsummer disease, but may occur anytime when night temperatures exceed 70f and grass blades remain wet for periods of 10 hours or longer. The disease brown patch can be trouble in tall fescue. I can say that properly planted, correctly managed fescue of any variety will be more resistant to disease than a resistant variety planted on clay soil, fertilized after may and watered every day in summer.
Tall fescue germplasm is being inoculated and resistance levels determined using plant digital image analysis. Over the last two decades, genetic improvements have transformed tall fescue from a rank forage type to an attractive, deep green, uniform turf. Brown patch is the most common and important disease of tall fescue in the southeast. Some of this is due to the fact that what we accept, and even expect, as desirable. All cool season turfgrass species are susceptible to brown patch.
Is it the common lawn disease brown patch or is it something else. In general, brown patch is characterized by roughly circular areas of brown grass ranging from a few inches to two feet or more in diameter. Brown patch fungus can take hold of your lawn during the humid, hot weather in the summer. Titan rx continues that legacy by combining all the excellent features of the previous parentage with further selections for improved color, even stronger resistance to brown patch, heat, drought and. Best over the counter treatment for brown patch on fescue. How to grow fescue grass in your yard todays homeowner. Similar to most turfgrass diseases one of the best cultural practice to prevent brown patch is by incorporating new disease resistant turfgrass varieties. Brown patch disease strikes lawns from late spring through summer months. There are some other ones out now that are labeled rtf, or rhizomatous tall fescue, miller said. Eliminating weeds and achieving better color in your lawn are often improvements that are seen quicker when getting your lawn into shape, but there are other challenges that north carolina lawns face that are particularly frustrating. Festuca arundinacea is caused by a fungus rhizoctonia solani that can be severe in both urban and commer cial landscapes in. Turfgrass disease profiles brown patch bp106w the brown patch pathogen produces no spores. For example, scotts turf builder grass seed heattolerant blue mix for tall fescue lawns combines improved turftype tall fescue varieties with a heattolerant kentucky bluegrass to help reduce the impact of brown patch on your lawn. Fescue is a common lawn grass throughout much of the u.
If your lawn has experienced brown patch damage in the past, you can apply a preventative fungicide product at about or before. Brown patch rhizoctonia solani kansas state university. Fungicide management of brown patch of tall turftype fescue in. Scorpion exhibits improved turf density and is resistance to brown patch incited by rhizoctonia solani. However, with the right timing and the right product, you can get rid of brown patch and begin to heal your damaged lawn.
Brown patch is the achilles heel of tall fescue, miller said. The causal agent of brown patch is rhizoctonia solani. In most cases affected areas are able to recover, but tall fescue lawns less than a year old can be completely killed. Then, anywhere from early june to late august, strange brown patches appear that only seem to grow in size, even though you water more and more. Rembrandt, picasso or winning colors are all good choices, he said. How to treat brown patch disease in north carolina lawns. Therefore, the disease spreads by radial expansion of mycelium over leaf blades and by mechanical maintenance practices. Brown patch fungus in tall fescue turf grass youtube. It continues the titan legacy by combining all the excellent features of the previous parentage with further selections for improved color, even stronger resistance to brown patch, heat, drought and winter, and increased rhizome growth. None of the tall fescue cultivars have good resistance to brown patch. It is called brown patch in tall fescue or zoysiagrass and summer patch in kentucky bluegrass. He says lack of morning sun and decreased airflow can encourage brown patch to flourish. The rhizoctonia fungus rhizoctonia can affect all coolseason lawn grasses, but it is especially harmful to ryegrass and tall fescue. If they dont, then they go to hell starting in june to august.