Our Mission - North Carolina Cooperative Extension partners with communities to deliver education and technology that enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians.
La Extensión Cooperativa de Carolina del Norte se asocia con las comunidades para ofrecer educación y tecnología que enriquecen la vida de los habitantes, la tierra y la economía de Carolina del Norte.
NC A&T Extension Agent - Agricultural & Natural Resources https://jobs.ncat.edu/postings/29024
North Carolina State University Area Agent – Commercial Horticulture/Field Crops https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/201361
4-H & Youth Development
Agriculture & Natural Resources
The “Disease Pyramid” and Brown Patch on Fescue
By Matt Lenhardt, NC Cooperative Extension Service Stokes County
Brown patch (Rhizoctonia sp.) is a fungal disease of fescue grass that is very active in the summer time. But why are some diseases active in some parts of the year and not in others? To explain this, it all depends on the four factors of the “disease pyramid” coming together at the same time. The first factor is conducive weather conditions for the disease to become active, the second is the correct host species for the disease, third a pathogen needs to be present, and finally the correct amount of time is needed for the fungi to develop when conditions are suitable. For brown patch development, the host would be fescue, the pathogen Rhizoctonia, and weather conditions would be warm and humid - typically upper 60’s to low 70’s at night and mid to up 80’s in the day - for approximately 5 to 7 days or more. Brown patch is also favored when turfgrass has continual leaf wetness periods (10 hours or more) from excessive dew, rain, and/or irrigation. Put all this together and you can get brown patch disease, with the characteristic circular brown patches in your lawn. Patches can range from a few inches to several feet depending on the severity of the outbreak, and can have a straw-like/brown color on the edge of the patch as the disease progresses to new turf.
To control brown patch, it is recommended to reduce stress on fescue by mowing at a 4” mowing height. And if we haven’t had sufficient rain, then only water once or twice a week in the early morning hours (2:00 am – 7:00 am). Irrigation at this time of day (when grass blades are already wet from due) will reduce the amount of leaf wetness (as opposed to water during the day). It is also recommended to apply a preventative fungicide when conditions favor brown patch development. For more information, feel free to contact your local Stokes County Extension office.
Family & Consumer Sciences
Livestock & Forages
Row Crop & Commercial Horticulture
N.C. Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity provider.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, N.C. Cooperative Extension will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Please direct accommodation requests to: Taylor Hartman at taylor_hartman@ncsu.edu or 336-593-8179. Requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least 10 days before the event.