Some signs of Summer Patch include…
- Patches of wilted, dark green grass that quickly turns brown.
- Matted light-tan areas of dead turf.
- Roots that are dark and partially rotted.
- Presence of a “Frog-eye” pattern which is a patch of green healthy grass growing in the center of a larger brown dead patch.
Did you know that:
- Summer patch is one of the most destructive diseases of Kentucky Bluegrass.
- It is a soil-borne fungus that infects the roots.
- It often goes undetected until the plant begins to die because it occurs underground.
- The disease is most prevalent following a wet spring into early summer.
- It begins in the spring, but symptoms will appear in the summer during heat stress.
- It is common on sunny sides of slopes and areas that heat up quickly, such as along edges of roadways, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
Some cultural ways to control summer patch…
- Mow at the highest recommended height for your grass type.
- Irrigate deeply and less frequent to encourage deeper root development.
- Fertilize lightly with a slow release fertilizer.
- Keep thatch buildup to a minimum – dethatch if there is more than 1/2″.
- Aerate to relieve compaction.
- Maintain a balanced fertility.
