Brown Patch Alert

Brown patch has exploded on tall fescue landscapes and creeping bentgrass putting greens over the last week in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Warm night temperatures, high humidity, and rain have created ideal conditions for this disease to develop.

Looking at the weather forecast, conditions will remain favorable for brown patch for the foreseeable future. Creeping bentgrass putting greens and high-value tall fescue landscapes should be treated with preventive fungicides as soon as possible. If the disease is allowed to progress much longer, recovery will be very slow now that the summer heat has set in.

The QoI fungicides azoxystrobin (Heritage), fluoxastrobin (Disarm), pyraclostrobin (Insignia), and trifloxystrobin (Compass) are best for brown patch control and provide 21 to 28 days of protection against the disease. None of these products are readily available to homeowners, and the products you'll find on the shelves at home improvement stores are not very effective against brown patch. If you have a brown patch problem in your lawn or landscape, it's best to call a professional.

For more information about brown patch, please visit turfpathology.org.