Bermuda Grass Problem?

1 georgia dog – posted 09 June 2003 18:53

I have a hybrid turf grass bermuda lawn that is 3 years old. It is beginning to come in good this year after I spread six pickup loads of river sand on it. Starting to really smooth out. However, I am worried in that there are a number of light brown spots appearing in different places in the laws. These may be several inches across or a foot in diameter These almost looks like the grass has turned dormant. The tiny leaves seem to turn brown on the end of the leaf and also at the stem. The center of the leaf is the last to turn brown. Is this a pest, a disease, or what? Would appreaciate any references or help.

Thanks

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 28 June 2003 01:04

If the spots are perfectly circular, or nearly circular, that’s a fungal disease. If not, then it could be either fungus or insects. Due to your description, I’m leaning toward fungus. With an insect I would expect more of a uniform look to the damage.

VooMan – posted 07 July 2003 21:22

Hello,

I am experiencing the exact same problem. I put out a lot of river sand to smooth out my lawn and now I have brown patches all over the place…

What do you do to kill the fungus? I would appreciate some input. I’ve worked very hard on my lawn and I’d hate to ruin it by not knowing what to do.

Thanks,Andrew

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 07 July 2003 23:36

Fungal disease can be killed in one application of household corn meal. If you’re doing an entire lawn, save youself a few bucks and get the corn meal at a feed store. I get mine in 50 pound sacks for $5.00.

The application rate for yards with established disease is 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Apply it with a drop or whirlly spreader and keep spreading until you get the right poundage for your turf area.

Corn meal works by attracting another fungus to the yard. The second fungus is a disease for the first one and kills it. The second fungus is harmless to the plants; however. Since the process is microbiological, it takes time (3 weeks) to see the process work and green fill in the brown areas. But it does work remarkably well.

The only research I’ve seen on this was done at the Texas A&M University at Stephenville. They studied fungal disease on peanuts and found corn meal to be as effective as crop rotation. That is just about 100% perfect. Same diseases affect peanuts as affect lawns.

VooMan – posted 10 July 2003 17:31

Thanks Dchall,

I appreciate the reply. 🙂

I have read with interest your posts about organic lawn care, and I would like to learn more. I am on the south side of Atlanta and would love to turn this red Georgia clay into a more healthy environment for my plants and grass.

Thanks again,Andrew

taxijeff – posted 02 June 2004 06:25

I am experiancing kinda the same problem my bermuda is almost a year old and most of it is beautiful but now i have a whole patch in the front by the street side going brown. i noticed that there are a few patches in the yard as well although small. i have worked so hard on it and it looked so good until just the last couple weeks with that patch. i live in georgia a suburb of atlanta and just can’t seem to firgure it out. i am willing to try the corn meal if it will help any other suggestions..taxijeff

WeedFREEInc. – posted 02 June 2004 13:10

Sounds like dollar spot to me. I had the same disease in my bermuda grass yard. I to will try the corn meal treatment if it comes back. This disease likes moist, cool conditions and also likes itrogen deficient soils. I took care of mine by applying 46-0-0 fertilizer and it cleared up in about 2 weeks.

kjar620 – posted 23 June 2004 09:21

Speaking of fungus, not only do I have the brown spots, I have circular spots of a purple fungus on the grass. If you look at the blade closely it has little purple dots all over the top half of the blade…….help.

DPM – posted 30 May 2006 11:44

quote:Originally posted by kjar620:Speaking of fungus, not only do I have the brown spots, I have circular spots of a purple fungus on the grass. If you look at the blade closely it has little purple dots all over the top half of the blade…….help.

I have observed the same problem. Any answers yet?

trhester – posted 20 August 2007 14:51

Does the sand actually facilitate the stolon growth of Bermuda? I have many bare areas and have heard sand will help it to spread into those areas.

waterman – posted 26 November 2007 11:42

if you have a disease problem follow these suggestions if you have irrigation set it to come on at dawn water occasionally but deeply 3X/week should be enough adjust irrigation according to rainfall don’t overferlize (3-4x/season for bermuda) and last fertilizing should be in August. Don’t mow the grass when it is wet.Most importantly take a leaf sample to your local extension agent. This may not a disease.

sodkiller – posted 26 May 2008 11:48

I JUST LAID 1 PALLET OF BERMUDA AND WHEN I LAID IT IT WAS A DARK GREEN. NOW A WEEK AND A HALF LATER THE SOD IS MAYBE 70% BROWN. I WATER ALMOST EVERY MORNING. I PULL THE SOD TO ASSURE IT IS GETTING WATER. THE GROUND IS NOT ROCK HARD PLEASE I NEED HELP.