# Brown Patch Disease: The Summer Enemy Every Middle Tennessee Fescue Lawn Will Face If you have a fescue lawn in Middle Tennessee, I have some news for you: it's not a matter of *if* your lawn will get brown patch disease, it's a matter of *when*. After treating hundreds of lawns throughout Columbia, Franklin, Spring Hill, and the surrounding areas, I can tell you that brown patch is as inevitable as summer humidity in our region. But here's the good news - with the right prevention strategy and treatment approach, you can keep this fungal disease from turning your beautiful lawn into a patchwork of brown circles. ## What Exactly Is Brown Patch Disease? Brown patch is a fungal disease that loves everything about Middle Tennessee summers: heat, humidity, and our beloved tall fescue grass. The fungus (Rhizoctonia solani, if you want to get technical) creates those telltale circular brown patches that can range from a few inches to several feet across. The tricky thing about brown patch is that it can look different depending on when you catch it. Early in the morning, especially after a dewy night, you might see white, web-like threads around the edges of the brown areas. That's called mycelium - basically the fungus showing its true colors. By afternoon, when the dew dries up, those white threads disappear, leaving just the brown, dead grass behind. I remember walking a customer's lawn in Brentwood about 10 years ago, and she was convinced someone had spilled something on her grass. "It wasn't there yesterday!" she insisted. That's how fast brown patch can move when conditions are right. ## Why Middle Tennessee Is Brown Patch Paradise Our climate here in Middle Tennessee creates perfect conditions for brown patch disease. We get those hot, humid summers with nighttime temperatures that stay above 70°F and daytime highs in the 80s and 90s. Add in our frequent summer thunderstorms and the humidity that hangs around afterward, and you've got a fungal playground. The disease is most active when: - Nighttime temperatures stay above 68°F - Humidity levels are high (which is basically every summer day here) - There's moisture on the grass blades for extended periods - Air circulation is poor ## Early Detection: What to Look For The key to managing brown patch is catching it early. Here's what to watch for: **In the early morning hours:** - Circular brown or tan patches, usually 6 inches to 3 feet across - White, cotton-like mycelium around the edges (this is your smoking gun) - Grass blades that look water-soaked or dark green before turning brown - A distinctive "smoke ring" pattern where the center might start recovering while the edges continue to spread **Later in the day:** - The white mycelium disappears, leaving just brown patches - Grass pulls up easily from the affected areas - The patches often have a darker border where the disease is still active ## Prevention: Your Best Defense Here's where I'm going to give you some hard truth: in Middle Tennessee, every fescue lawn will encounter brown patch. The goal isn't to prevent it entirely - it's to minimize the damage and keep it from taking over your entire lawn. **Start Prevention in May** Don't wait until you see brown patches to start thinking about fungal disease. In our area, you need to begin preventive fungicide treatments in May and continue through August. This isn't optional if you want to maintain a healthy fescue lawn. **The Treatment Schedule** - Begin applications in May when nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 60°F - Never go longer than 28 days between treatments during May through August - Use liquid fungicide applications only - granular treatments don't provide the coverage you need - Rotate between different fungicide active ingredients to prevent resistance **Why Liquid Applications Matter** This is important: always use liquid fungicide applications for brown patch prevention. Granular fungicides rely on the active ingredient moving upward through the soil, but liquid applications work both as a foliar treatment (protecting the grass blades) and as a soil treatment. You get better coverage and longer-lasting protection. ## Fungicide Rotation: Don't Let the Fungus Get Smart One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make is using the same fungicide all season long. The fungus can develop resistance to active ingredients, making your treatments less effective over time. Here's a basic rotation strategy: - **May-June**: Start with a strobilurin fungicide (like azoxystrobin) - **July**: Switch to a different mode of action (like propiconazole) - **August**: Use a third different active ingredient or a combination product Most fungicides can only be applied with the same active ingredient three times sequentially, but always check your product label for specific guidance. ## The Grass Clipping Dilemma Here's something that might surprise you: don't bag your grass clippings during summer fungicide treatments. I know it seems counterintuitive, but bagging clippings can actually reduce the effectiveness of your soil-applied fungicide treatment. The clippings help protect the fungicide from breaking down too quickly and extend the duration of control. However, if you absolutely must bag clippings (maybe you're dealing with a severe outbreak), then you'll need to increase your application frequency - follow the label's most frequent interval, which might be 14 days instead of 28 for some products. ## Choosing the Right Fescue Varieties If you're planning to overseed or establish a new lawn, choosing brown patch-resistant fescue cultivars is crucial for long-term success in Middle Tennessee. Some varieties have been bred specifically for improved disease resistance. Look for cultivars with good brown patch resistance ratings. Your local extension office or a professional lawn care company can help you select the best varieties for our specific climate and soil conditions. ## Cultural Practices That Help While fungicides are your primary defense, good cultural practices can help reduce disease pressure: **Watering Practices:** - Water early in the morning so grass blades dry quickly - Avoid evening watering that leaves grass wet overnight - Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth **Mowing:** - Keep your mower blades sharp to avoid tearing grass - Don't mow when the grass is wet - Maintain proper mowing height (3-4 inches for fescue) **Air Circulation:** - Prune back shrubs and trees that block air movement - Consider selective tree trimming to improve airflow ## When to Call in the Professionals Look, I'll be honest with you - managing brown patch disease in Middle Tennessee requires consistent attention and the right products applied at the right times. If you're seeing widespread brown patches despite your best efforts, or if you're not comfortable handling fungicide applications yourself, it might be time to bring in a professional. A good lawn care company will have access to professional-grade fungicides and the experience to create a customized treatment plan for your specific lawn and conditions. ## The Bottom Line Brown patch disease is a fact of life for fescue lawns in Middle Tennessee, but it doesn't have to ruin your summer lawn enjoyment. Start your prevention program in May, stick to a consistent treatment schedule, rotate your fungicides, and choose resistant grass varieties when possible. Remember: it's much easier and less expensive to prevent brown patch than it is to treat a severe outbreak and then try to recover your lawn. --- *If you're dealing with brown patch disease or want to set up a prevention program for your Middle Tennessee lawn, we're here to help. Mr. Lawn Care has been protecting fescue lawns throughout Columbia, Franklin, Spring Hill, and surrounding areas for over a decade. Contact us for a consultation and let's keep your lawn healthy all summer long.*