Q.
Can you tell me why lawn grass gets frog eyes and the best way to prevent it?
Also why does some of the grass look so yellow?
Can you tell me why lawn grass gets frog eyes and the best way to prevent it?
Also why does some of the grass look so yellow?
 |
| Summer patch, frequently called frog-eye or frogeye patch. |
A.
This is the time of year we usually see frogeye disease, or Summer Patch, in
lawns. This used to be called Fusarium many years ago, but no longer. The
yellowing may be due to a lack of nitrogen or iron fertilizer or both.
This is the time of year we usually see frogeye disease, or Summer Patch, in
lawns. This used to be called Fusarium many years ago, but no longer. The
yellowing may be due to a lack of nitrogen or iron fertilizer or both.
This disease is a hot weather disease on
tall fescue in the Mojave Desert. It occurs when air humidity increases in the
summer months or if we water our lawns early in the evenings.
tall fescue in the Mojave Desert. It occurs when air humidity increases in the
summer months or if we water our lawns early in the evenings.
Consider the disease organism to be
present on all tall fescue lawns. The symptoms of the disease appear during
hot, humid weather or during a rainy period. The worst scenario is if it rains
in the afternoon or early evening and keeps the lawn wet during the night.
present on all tall fescue lawns. The symptoms of the disease appear during
hot, humid weather or during a rainy period. The worst scenario is if it rains
in the afternoon or early evening and keeps the lawn wet during the night.
If our lawns stay wet for at least six
hours at night in July and August, this tends to promote this particular
disease. The disease will take about 3 to 4 days to appear when conditions are
right.
hours at night in July and August, this tends to promote this particular
disease. The disease will take about 3 to 4 days to appear when conditions are
right.
Apply a preventive fungicide if your
lawn has been susceptible to this disease in the past. If it has, you need to
plan that it will happen again. Purchase a lawn fungicide that prevents frogeye
disease, a.k.a. Fusarium or summer patch and states so on the label.
lawn has been susceptible to this disease in the past. If it has, you need to
plan that it will happen again. Purchase a lawn fungicide that prevents frogeye
disease, a.k.a. Fusarium or summer patch and states so on the label.
Apply it to susceptible areas 2 to 3
days after summer rains occur. Follow label directions for reapplication of the
fungicide. Lawn fungicides aimed primarily at disease prevention and seldom
cure diseases once they start.
days after summer rains occur. Follow label directions for reapplication of the
fungicide. Lawn fungicides aimed primarily at disease prevention and seldom
cure diseases once they start.
Fungicides will stop a disease from
spreading once applied but seldom cure it.
spreading once applied but seldom cure it.
Nonchemical control includes
aerification of the lawn in spring or fall months. Increase the mowing height
or make sure lawns are mowed at 2 1/2 inches or higher. Make sure the
irrigation has head-to-head coverage and prevent it from getting water stressed
during the heat.
aerification of the lawn in spring or fall months. Increase the mowing height
or make sure lawns are mowed at 2 1/2 inches or higher. Make sure the
irrigation has head-to-head coverage and prevent it from getting water stressed
during the heat.
Use organic fertilizers on the lawn
including composts and bagged manure products. Compost applied as a fertilizer
has been shown to reduce many lawn diseases. Compost should be applied monthly
during the growing season. Use mulching mowers and leave the mulched clippings
to decompose in the lawn and on top of the soil.
Those of you living in Las Vegas can get compost for top dressing lawns in bulk at Viragrow.
Viragrow website
including composts and bagged manure products. Compost applied as a fertilizer
has been shown to reduce many lawn diseases. Compost should be applied monthly
during the growing season. Use mulching mowers and leave the mulched clippings
to decompose in the lawn and on top of the soil.
Those of you living in Las Vegas can get compost for top dressing lawns in bulk at Viragrow.
Viragrow website