Brown patch

Brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani) 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.