Ascochyta Leaf Blight

Ascochyta Leaf Blight will cause large, splotchy, patches of grass to rapidly turn a straw-brown color and appear dead. Commonly mistaken for other issues such a chemically-induced lawn burning, drought stress, and other related diseases. As Ascochyta Leaf Blight is a very common disease that is also often overlooked, if your lawn appears to be suffering from drought stress, burns, or displays similar symptoms, contact your Richter's professional for a diagnoses before taking any treatment measures. ​

Brown Spot

Brown Patch is a disease that is caused by the Rhizoctonia fungus. It causes patches that look brown, sunken and sometimes present a white fungus on early-morning dew-covered grass. Often, these patches thin the grass, but don't completely kill off the grass within the patch. The edges of these mostly circular patches often present a deep-greenish-purplish color, appearing more prominent earlier in the day, fading by the evening.  

Dollar Spot

Dollar Spot is caused by a fungal pathogen, Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, that presents in light tan spots or lesions that progress downward from the tip of the grass blade, or across the width of leaf blades. Sporadic patches of grass will appear in a white/straw color about the size of a large coin, grouped together in larger patches.  The fungus that causes dollar spot can be spread around a lawn by shoes, mowers, etc. 

Leaf Spot

Leaf spot is caused by a  group of fungi in the genera Bipolaris, Drechslera, and Exserohilum. The fungi first invade the blades, creating small brown spots. These spots become larger, turning a dark purplish-red  with a tan center, as the disease gets worse. The spots will soon cover the entire leaf blade. The disease can result in severe thinning of the grass. This is because it causes what is called "melting-out", which causes the crowns and roots of the grass rot, severely damaging them.

Pythium

The disease is particularly severe when daytime temperatures exceed 82°F  The disease can show as dark green to purple soaked-looking blades. Patches appear in irregular circles. Blades will often feel greasy or slimy to the touch. The fungal-like pathogen can be spread by flowing water or mowing equipment, causing the diseased spots to present in streaks across a lawn. 

Rust

Rust is a disease that specifically infects grass that is slow-growing. Therefor, different factors that lead to poor growth of grass are very favorable to the rust disease, such as: hot summers, drought stress, low nitrogen levels, compaction and shade.  Rust causes a yellowish-green cast on the grass, and can result in a orangey-rust like color to rub off on shoes and clothes upon contact. Although it is largely a cosmetic issue, it can be very harmful to grasses newly seeded  in spring.