Brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) is a turf disease that occurs during summer, when nitrogen is high, the weather is humid and the soil is thatchy and poorly drained. Symptoms are rapidly enlarging circular or irregular patches up to 0.5m in diameter. A dark purplish or greyish border may be visible in early morning.
Sometimes turf recovers from the centre, resulting in a ring of diseased turf. Brown patch can be prevented by regular scarification, if necessary, to reduce water-holding thatch. As Brown patch is favoured by high nitrogen fertilisation, applications should be light and frequent rather than in one large application.
Approved fungicides can control the disease.
To minimise risk, manage irrigation carefully by watering early in the day so grass blades dry quickly and avoid excess moisture lingering overnight, and reduce thatch through regular aeration and topdressing to improve drainage and airflow. Balanced nutrition is also key, avoid over-applying high rates of readily available nitrogen which can promote tender, disease-susceptible growth and, consider preventative fungicide programmes with appropriate actives ahead of prolonged warm, humid periods on high-value surfaces.
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