Brown Patches On Lawn

Q

My lawn has developed several large brown patches about the size of a dinner plate. The circles on my lawn look brown and dead inside.

A

The most likely cause of brown patches on lawns is usually a lawn fungus of some type. The size of the brown patches you are describing indicate the most likely culprit to be Brown Patch lawn disease, which is most notable for causing the multiple brown patches the size of dinner plates as you are experiencing on your home lawn.

Treatment for Brown Patch lawn disease is the same as prevention, which is usually best accomplished by following good lawn care practices at all times.

Fungicides can be purchased to help control this lawn disease, and will be applied to the entire lawn surface to aid in the control of the disease. However the pathogen for Brown patch will still remain alive in the soil for many years, which can then cause future outbreaks to occur if correct lawn care practices are not followed to minimise the risk of further outbreaks.

Proper lawn care practices include only ever to water in the mornings and never at night, reduce watering if necessary to reduce soil moisture, fertilise regularly throughout the year with a quality lawn fertiliser, reduce shade by pruning surrounding trees, and by coring / aerating the lawn if the soil has become compacted over time.