I have a lawn funfus (brown patches throughout the yard) I dug up many areas to look for grub worms and did not find any. So, I have young children and pets and was wondering if there was a natual way to treat lawn fungus that is not harmful to anyone or the enviornment?

I have a new lawn reseeded last fall. There are a lot of brown spots in it. I assume it is a fungus. Can you tell me what I need to do to treat the lawn.

Turf type tall fescues and bluegrass are cool season plants. That means that they will produce their best growth when the weather is cool. During the summer months, these grasses may go through periods of decline, especially lawns that are newly seeded.

During the summer months, in the heat and humidity, the grass plants will tend to go into a dormant state. The lawn may have an overall browned-out appearance. This browning will be exacerbated by shallow soil or compacted areas in the lawn; where roots can’t get down deeply into the soil, they will tend to suffer more, causing patches of brown. Browning out may also be worse in south or west facing areas.

“Summer Patch” is a name given to a summer time condition that causes scattered patches of dead turf during hot, dry but humid weather. Dead grass will form a ring measuring 1-2 around a patch of live grass in circular or crescent shapes. The exact cause of this condition is not clear; certainly plant stress plays a role. Lawns that are infrequently watered, over fertilized, compacted, or with excessive thatch buildup are most susceptible.

There is also a fungus (Rhizoctonia solani) that causes a disease aptly named “brown patch’’ that is very common in our area. This is a fungal disease that causes turf grasses to die in patchy areas. Most often only the grass blades are affected and the turf will recover within 2-3 weeks. When weather conditions persist and cultural conditions are conducive, the disease will continue and will attach plant crowns and will cause a total kill.

To help control these diseases, keep the turf as stress free as possible by keeping the turf at a 3-inch length. This helps to shade the soil and roots. Never remove more than one third of the grass blade at any mowing, so this means when the grass gets to be 4 inches tall, you should mow. Keep the lawnmower blades sharp to make good clean cuts and water during droughty periods. Turf should be fertilized in fall to promote strong healthy root systems.

Generally, fungicide treatments by the homeowner for these conditions are not recommended, although there are some general lawn formulations available at your local garden center or hardware store. Be sure to follow label directions carefully.