What's causing these brown patches in my lawn?

Hi. New member here seeking advice.

I thoroughly scarified my lawn and re-seeded in the Spring. Despite regular watering during the dry spell I've been very disappointed with the rate of growth and now it's covered in brown patches of apparently dead grass. These started to appear about a month ago and are rapidly increasing in number and size.

If anyone can advise the cause and remedy, I'd be most grateful.

 

Hello, with turf diseases it’s important to spot them early.
Can you take a careful look and see if you can spot any type of red tips in the damaged areas.

It does look like a typical red thread disease. The areas slowly grow in numbers and increase in size.
Warm humid and wet weather sets this off and it’s very common.
It will recover and needs nitrogen to combat it. There is only one domestic fungicide product that helps too but a feed will combat it.
But to do above we need to confirm it’s red thread first.
I’ve included a photo showing the red tips associated with this disease.

 

Hi Liz. Many thanks for your reply. It looks as though your diagnosis is correct because there's definitely a redness in the damaged areas (see photo).


Is there any particular nitrogen feed you would recommend?

Thanks again.

 

Hi, it’s the very tips we need to check like in my photo but I think I can see them.

Just to double check but have you applied any type of fertiliser before this appeared?

The good news is red thread disappears although it’s still there but as the weather dries up red thread tends to go and you are left with the patches that slowly improve.
Read thread shows up in moist and warm conditions and low nitrogen contributes towards this.

Don’t water at night is the first step, saying that the weather is grim outside today where I am!

Most fertilisers granular or liquid are fine and even a weed and feed combined helps but only use this if you have weeds.
What do you use at the moment?

If you use a spreader/granular and have one in mind ie. a summer one we are just about in time for it.
It’s nice to have one with iron/fe as that aids turf too.
The application of nitrogen helps the grass to strengthen up and outgrow the poor areas. It’s not really a cure as it will pop up again maybe next year depending on conditions. Good lawn treatments like scarifying and a good through the season balanced feed will help keep it at bay.

So it’s really what you are use to with fertilisers, maybe early in the season a slow release one may be beneficial depending on a few things but right now a straight release one lasting around 4 weeks is what you need.

 

Excellent advice as always liz the pot

Not sure what my patches were really...just a few ....but I simply gave a liquid feed and watered these individual spots. With hindsight mine may have been caused by the hot dry weather and these were esp dry spots??? Just an instinct that seemed to pay off

In a couple of weeks I will be applying nematodes for leather jackets ....a treatment that has saved my front lawn over the winter period. Late August for this liz the pot ?

 

I’ve not used them to be honest Verdun. I’ve read reports on tests carried out but never tried them to see how effective they are. Some say they work while others have mixed views but it’s basically adding numbers to the natural amount found in the soil.
I think if it works and you are happy then why not.

Chafers and Leatherjackets - The Munch Bunch! | Pitchcare Articles

And more info on usage.

Nemasys Leatherjacket Killer - Effective Leatherjacket Treatment | Pitchcare Shop

 

Hi Liz.

I've taken a closer look and it's definitely the tips which are red, as can be seen in this photo:


I normally use granular materials, adjusting my spreader to achieve the correct rate. About a month ago applied Westland "3 Day Green", which is 3-1-3 with 2% Fe. There are a few weeds showing now so would Westland's "All in One", which is 10-2-2 (but no Fe), be suitable for "treating" the Red Thread?

 

Yes , that’s it for sure.
Need to increase the nitrogen to combat it, the 3 day green is low N. Yes the all in one will be better, raise the cut too so that it strengthens the grass plant too. Clean the mower after the cut too if possible.
Water it in if no rain but try to restrain from watering as much as possible once it’s washed in and if temps rise monitor the turf, if a hot spell strikes water if need be.
I would expect some improvement within a few weeks after the feed.

Edit. You just need a highest N summer feed to try to force new growth.

There is just one domestic treatment.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bayer-Gard...er+Red+thread&qid=1565794451&s=gateway&sr=8-1

It may help but it’s not something I’ve used to honest.

 

That's great, Liz. Thanks very much for your advice.

 

You‘re welcome.
Give it a feed then keep us updated. It can be a persistent problem.