Lawn diseases can cause serious damage to your turf, so it's important to understand the conditions that can contribute to their development. Some of the common lawn diseases in Texas include brown patch, gray leaf spot, and take-all root rot. These lawn diseases thrive under certain conditions and affect different kinds of lawns. Brown patch is most active in the fall and spring when conditions are hot and humid, while gray leaf spot can attack your turf when the weather is warm and humid, like during late summer to early fall. Meanwhile, take-all root rot will likely wreak havoc on your lawn around spring and fall and when it has poor drainage! It's important to learn about the ideal conditions for these diseases so you know when to be more cautious and can take precautions to prevent them from developing.

Brown patch thrives in spring and fall during hot and humid weather.

Overwatering a lawn in Dallas, TX, with fungus disease.

Brown patch is a common lawn disease caused by the Rhizoctonia solani fungus. This fungus thrives in hot, humid weather, which is why it is most active in the spring and fall. These seasons create the perfect balance of moisture and warmth that activates the fungus and causes it to develop into a disease on your lawn. Prolonged wetness of the grass blades is also a key ingredient for the development of the disease.

This disease can be exacerbated by certain conditions, such as:

  • High nitrogen content in fertilizer treatments: Excessive nitrogen can promote rapid grass growth without a strong enough root system to anchor it in the soil. This will make your lawn more susceptible to diseases like brown patch.
  • Over-irrigation: Too much water on your lawn will make the soil waterlogged and provide enough moisture for the disease to develop.
  • Poor soil drainage: Even with just the right amount of water, compact soil with poor drainage will remain moist for longer because water is retained. This means the soil has adequate moisture content to allow brown patch to thrive.
  • Excessive thatch build-up: Thick thatch inhibits your lawn's ability to absorb enough nutrients and water to drain properly, creating an ideal environment for brown patch.
All types of grasses are susceptible to brown patch.

Gray Leaf Spot Thrives in Warm & Humid Weather

Gray leaf spot is caused by the fungus Pyricularia grisea and thrives in warm, humid weather. High humidity levels and temperatures staying between 75 degrees and 85 degrees Fahrenheit provide the disease with a conducive environment to develop and spread. Because of this, the disease is often noticeable from late summer to early fall. The fungus causing the disease also requires moisture, especially on the grass blades, to become active. That's why over-irrigation, poor air circulation, and prolonged exposure to wetness are big contributors to gray leaf spot. Warm-season lawns like St. Augustine grass are particularly vulnerable to gray leaf spot.

Take-All Root Rot Loves Poor Soil Drainage, Thick Thatch & Nutrient Deficient-Lawns

Take-all root rot is a fungal disease that affects the roots of your grass. Warm, humid weather in the spring and fall is ideal for this disease. The fungus can cause the roots of your grass to rot, which can lead to the death of your grass. Poor soil conditions due to soil compaction and thick thatch on your lawn can hasten the development of the disease as the fungus that causes it needs a moist environment.

Lawns with nutrient deficiency, especially in potassium and phosphorus, are more vulnerable to take-all root rot. These nutrients play a crucial role in bolstering your lawn's root system, and a lack of these nutrients will weaken your lawn's roots!

Give us a call today to schedule our lawn disease control service!

If you're looking to protect your lawn from diseases, look no further than our lawn disease control service. At Weedex Lawn Care, we provide a lawn disease control service that provides effective treatments to protect your grass from diseases like brown patch, gray leaf spot, and take-all root rot. This service is offered to residential property owners in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, TX, and throughout the surrounding areas. Give us a call today at (972) 727-9207 to enlist this service!