Should You Use Fungicide On Your Lawn? A Turfgrass Specialist Explains
As fall begins, many turfgrasses show signs of common diseases. “These fungi are always present, but disease occurs when the environmental conditions are ideal for its development,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass specialist, Turfgrass and Education Center at the University of Georgia. “That means an extended period of humidity and temperatures in the 60s to 80s.”
One of the most prevalent diseases in warm season grasses such as centipede, zoysia, and St. Augustine is large patch (Rhizoctonia solani). Shorter days and cooling temperatures slow growth, which leaves the grass more susceptible to disease. Warm season grasses may not be able to recover before going into dormancy, which results in slower green-up next spring, says Waltz.
