Fescue Lawn Fungus

Types

• Several fungal diseases affect fescue, such as brown patch. Brown patch is also known as Rhizoctonia blight and affects ryegrass and fescue, especially during warm weather. Another fungal disease that affects fescue, is gray leaf spot. This is a destructive disease favored by hot summer temperatures, rain and high humidity. White patch fungus is seen during the summer and fall, causing damage to newly seeded fescue lawns.

Symptoms

• The symptoms associated with brown patch in fescue, includes circles of fungal growth, smoke rings on grass when wet and green lesions on infected fescue grass. Fescue infected with gray leaf spot usually develop lesions on grass blades, yellow spots on grass blades and areas of thin grass. White patch causes patches of blighted grass, bleaching of grass blades and rows of tiny mushrooms along areas of blighted grass.

Control

• Controlling fungal diseases on fescue is best accomplished with frequent fertilization, irrigation and a mowing height of 2 1/2 inches. Fungicides are often beneficial in eliminating and preventing fungus in fescue.