Bermuda Grass Diseases
- Bermuda grass is also a favorite choice for lawns, parks, sports fields and animal pastures. The more cold-tolerant varieties have been planted in northern climates. Bermuda grass varieties require special care when used as low-cut, manicured lawns to prevent disease and damage. Some common Bermuda grass diseases are brown patch, dollar spots, fairy rings and slime molds.
- Brown patch is characterized by a small spot that increases to a large circular, brown area. As the center grass recovers, the brown patch edges form a ring pattern. Brown patch is addressed by exposing the area to more sunlight, aerating the area and applying the appropriate low-nitrogen fertilizer. Chlorothaonil or benomyl are two recommended fungicides that treat brown patch.
- Dollar spots are characterized by the small, dollar coin sizes of these brown areas. These spots then spread and connect to form large patches of brown grass. This is typical in low-nitrogen lawns that grow in wet, humid climates. This disease is prevented by increasing the nitrogen levels, aerating often and watering in the morning. Anilazine, thiophanate and benomyl are the commonly used fungicides for this disease.
- Fairy rings are characterized by brown, circular rings that enclose areas of green Bermuda grass. Mushrooms may grow around the circle's brown edge. This disease typically occurs near decomposing wood. Nitrogen levels should be increased, the area should be watered and the lawn aerated to prevent fairy rings, because once affected, the grass does not recover.
- Slime mold covers the Bermuda grass as it feeds on the decaying matter in the soil. Its powdery substance spreads and thickens, cutting off the sunlight to the grass, causing it to turn yellow. This can be controlled by hosing down the Bermuda grass to remove the slime mold.