Turf, Brown Patches
One
of the most serious and noticeable diseases that routinely strikes Virginia's
home lawns each year is Rhizoctonia blight, i.e. brown patch. Typical symptoms
of brown patch are a circular area (often referred to as a "smoke
ring" or "halo") as pictured in Figure 11. The blighted leaves
have no characteristic banding or spotted lesions as previously described for
dollar spot or leaf spot. This disease typically occurs in the summer during
hot, wet weather. Cool-season turf grasses that receive heavy spring nitrogen
fertilization are particularly susceptible. This is another very important
reason to avoid heavy spring nitrogen applications.
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