my st.aug grass turning brown how should i threat it?

Answer 1

Brown patch in St. Augustine lawns normally occurs in late summer or early fall when the air temperature is between 75-85 degrees and the humidity is high. It can, however, occur in the spring when conditions are right. It is a fungus disease characterized by the familiar circular patches of yellow or brown grass. These circles can be anywhere from less than a foot in diameter to ten or more feet. Brown patch affects the leaves of the grass, which may be pulled away very easily from the stem.

Brown patch will not kill St. Augustine grass, but it can make a lawn very unsightly and weaken the turf enough that other weed grasses may invade and take hold. There is no "cure," but it can be effectively controlled. The disease needs the proper temperature and moisture to grow, and it thrives on nitrogen. Watering too much and watering at the wrong time are major contributors to brown patch. Water deeply and only when the grass starts showing a bit of stress, and water in the early morning. Nighttime watering does not allow the leaves to dry and gives the fungus spores the moisture they need to grow. Ideally, limit your fertilization schedule to twice a year, in April when the lawn begins active growth and late September (remember, brown patch loves nitrogen). St. Augustine does just fine with two feedings.

At the first sign of brown patch, you should apply a fungicide, following instructions on the label. Finally, apply preventive fungicides in early fall only if your lawn has been susceptible to brown spot in the past or if there is an outbreak in lawns upwind from your lawn.

Bob Ellis, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension

Here's another link, as well, for troubleshooting brown spots on your lawn.

http://www.ehow.com/how_118284_troubleshoot-brown-spots.html

Answer 2

With St Augustine grass, it could be be chinch bugs or grubs. Chinch bugs suck the juices out of the stalks of grass, and grubs eat the roots. Either can be controlled by applying a granular pesticide to the lawn. Any garden center can help you select on. The other problem could be brown patch fungus. That is much harder and more expensive to control. The fungus is caused by over watering. Change your watering schedule. If you're using a sprinkler system, shut off the timer and set it manually as watering is needed between rains. Water at dawn. This gives the lawn all day to dry out and should slow the fungus down.
You might want to call a lawn care company and have them look at the lawn to determine the exact cause and give you a bid for the solution. Then either let them do it, or do it yourself based on their recommendation.

Answer 3

You have to investigate the brown patches to be sure: search the web or look thru' some books "Scotts" has a great book available at Home Depot or Barnes and Noble.

Could be insects, but I would bet it's fungus based. Most of the country is in major heat and humidity right now thru' August. Fungus among us. If you have been having rain in your area, esp rain at night... then bet on it being fungus based.
Avoid watering at night if you can. Avoid fertilization- too as fungus thrives on it. Scotts and Bayer sell funguscide which will slow and treat such problems. 10 to 15 bucks per bag.

Many folks in the South are reporting major problems with St' Aug grass this year. There is a disease called St Aug Decline too - hopefully it's not this. There is no cure for it as to date.

I'm in NJ. Grass turns brownish in the heat- no mater how much watering, It's dormant until September when it greens out again. In the meantime I use "Green Lawnger" turf color. It works perfect. Non toxic, lush green on dormant grass and it allows the turf to maintain it's natural process of going dormant in the heat. (which encourages roots to grow deeper). Good luck.

Answer 4

You probably have insect that is eating the roots of the grass.. Mole crickets are bad for this with St. Augustine grass... You need to spray your lawn with chemical to kill these critters or your lawn will soon be all dead.. Any hardware store, Lowes, Home depot should be able to help you with this problem...

Answer 5

Insect, disease, or improper watering could all lead to it turning brown.

You may want to send a soil sample to the nearest state lab for testing. In the mean time have one of the major lawn care companies (trugreen-chemlawn) come take a look. They should be able to diagnose the problem easily.

Hope this helps.