Brown Patch on St. Augustine??

1Murdock – posted 14 July 2003 15:21

I have noticed brown patches in my thick St. Augustine grass yard. The patches start small, with yellowing of the blades and some circular brownish spots on them. Then the patch dies back within a couple of days to a really dried out dead patch. I suspect a fungus or cinch bug infestation, though the “floatation” method provided no bugs. My yard is otherwise healthy, green and lush. I have heard that Neem oil does well in N. Florida on both. Is there another product that would go at the problem both ways or should I try to find the Neem Oil?

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 15 July 2003 00:30

Ordinary corn meal is the universal organic anti fungal agent. It is also a great organic fertilizer. If you already have fungus, apply it at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. You can get agricultural grade corn meal in bulk at feed stores for about $5 for a 50 pound sack.

Corn meal works by attracting a beneficial fungus that works like a disease on the fungus that’s killing your grass.

certified-in-florida – posted 19 July 2003 06:33

I would try to make sure what I was treating for. Are the areas along any type of heat source like a drive, side walk, or road? Are they in any type of pattern? Have you done any fertilization lately?

I am in the panhandle and must say that despite the excess water, humidity, and heat, I am not seeing much fungus trouble in the St. Augustine I manage.

heymack – posted 16 August 2003 20:01

Hey Certified, what’s the deal with grass along a heat source? I have had a dickens of a time keeping a small narrow stretch of St Augustine alive between the sidewalk and street in front of my house in Houston. Every year around this time it turns brown and looks like it’s dead. With the heat we had a couple weeks ago, I think the stuff finally bought the farm.

Does the concrete radiate too much heat for the grass to bear? None of my neighbors have any problems and several of them don’t do any type of maintenance like I do, ie water, fertilize, Triazanon, etc.

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 18 August 2003 01:52

Turf near a heat source is often afflicted by insects. If so, the corn meal would only feed the grass and not kill any nonexistant disease.

Will-PCB – posted 18 August 2003 19:41

heysmack …

As long as the stolons stay green, dont worry about the blades. The grass will recover.

heymack – posted 20 August 2003 20:10

Turns out to be chinch bugs…did the old coffee can trick and viola many floaters.

Thanks for the help.

pjm – posted 01 September 2003 17:38

quote:Originally posted by certified-in-florida:I would try to make sure what I was treating for. Are the areas along any type of heat source like a drive, side walk, or road? Are they in any type of pattern? Have you done any fertilization lately?

I am in the panhandle and must say that despite the excess water, humidity, and heat, I am not seeing much fungus trouble in the St. Augustine I manage.

I’ve also experienced quite a bit of st. augustine grass dying in my backyard. It is near the back fence, away from any concrete. The area gets the afternoon sun and we have watered routinely– but have been careful not to soak the area too much. The dying area started off as a yellowing area that quickly died. It is to the point of being just plain dirt now– runners and everything are gone. There is no specific shape to the affected area, the borders are very irregular. We’ve treated the entire back yard with liquid diazanon– but not sure that has had any affect (it may be too soon to tell). How can I determine what is killing the grass? When will it be safe to re-sod? F.Y.I.– I’m in Houston, Tx.