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Question : The St Augustine sens in our yard designate meaning death - out . I do n’t see anygrub louse ; I ’ve applied fungicide and fertilizer with no succeeder .
A neighbour told me about the St. Augustine rootage rotting job call Take All Root Rot . What is that ? Ken , Brownsville , Texas
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resolution : Ken , Take - All root guff may sound like a made - up name , but it is for real . It turns out to be a very destructive root fungus disease on St. Augustine grasses ( all variety ) . Take - all has been found from Florida to Texas and California as well .
There have been several “ finding ” that put up to the feast of this soil - inhabiting lawn fungus disease – Gaeumannomyces graminis var . graminis .
St Augustine is not the only grass the Take - All root rot fungus smash . The fungus has also been found on bermuda forage , zoysia weed , and centipede grass .
First Symptoms
I get it on you ’re wondering , “ Why is my St. Augustine grass dying ? ” .
Usually , the first symptoms of ascendent rot in St. Augustine locoweed show up in leap and early summertime .
The lawn has a yellow - immature cast from theyellow leavescalled greensickness . As the fungus advancement , a severe thinning in irregular patches occurs as infected stolons begin to die .
If all Gunter Grass dies in an field , it is soon interchange with pot .
Shady sphere do not seem to show as much damage as sess in areas with lots of sun . St Augustine grass with a “ hard dose ” of take - all root decomposition looks patchy and in decline when accompany by a weak root system .
In surface area where St Augustine grass does not go totally dormant , the greatest recovery from the fungus chance during the winter . However , when spring rains return , so do the symptoms often .
Take All and Brown Patch Confusion
Often , the fungus called “ Brown Patch ” and “ Take All root rot “ are confusing , as they carry very similar symptoms .
Brown Patch
Take - All Root Rot
St. Augustine sod damage by the fungus often looks as if it has the same normally yellow foliage professional colligate with an iron deficiency .
Soil Types Not A Factor
Currently , the eccentric of soil in which the St. Augustine grass is “ planted ” does not come along to be a constituent .
Fungal disease have been found in clay and fine sandy land .
How to Treat Take-All Root Rot St. Augustine
The Take - All tooth root bunk does not seem to diddle deary regarding the varieties of St. Augustine grass that can “ resist ” being affected .
The following St Augustine cultivar in sod farms and homeowners lawns have all been “ victims ” of the root rot .
So far , the “ best ” root for st augustine root rot control is not chemical but proper turfgrass management practices .
Nitrogen – nitrate atomic number 7 ( ammonium ion nitrate and calcium nitrate ) appears to play a part the the occurrence of the fungus . Avoid using fertilizer containing the above nitrogen bod . If used , maintain equal amounts of atomic number 19 . The “ preferable ” shape of ammonium - hold fertilizers ( such as ammonium ion sulfate , urea , and ammonium ion chloride ) are recommended nitrogen beginning for well - wangle St. Augustine grass lawns .
rather of heavy fertilizer applications ( which may contribute to disease development ) , monthly weak applications of nitrogen are advocate .
The other choice is applying slow - firing plant food to asseverate growth over the growing season .
Mirco - nutrient insufficiency may also contribute to the fungi ’s “ life environment . ” Foliar program of micro - nutritious supplements can also be beneficial .
If serious micro - nutrient deficiencies are present , soil applications of manganese sulfate may be want to castigate the deficiency .
A soil test is always advisable to learn the makeup of your ground and its pH.
Lime used to avail manage filth pH has been tie in to increases in the fungus . Usually , it is great lifting to watch out for .
For St. Augustine grass , sample to assert a ground pH of 5.5 to 6.0 on heavilymanaged lawns . go for no more than 10 - 20 pounds of lime per 1,000 hearty understructure yearly .
Other turf management practices to deliberate :
Lawn Renovation
recuperation is very often poor in St. Augustine grass root word rot . The only choice may be a perfect lawn redevelopment . However , lay new St. Augustine turf over “ infected ” areas is just not advisable .
put down Bermuda or Zoysia grass is not a good option since both of these grass are hosts to this nasty grass fungus as well .
The best option for Mary Jane replacement may be Centipede pasture since few St Augustine fungus case have been describe .
Take All Root Rot Treatment: Chemical Controls
moderate the Take - All ascendent rot fungus with chemical applications has not accomplish the best results .
Due to the gamey price of the good antimycotic agent for take - all root rot , discussion applications are usually determine to spot discourse .
The Take All Root Rot St Augustine grass fungus so far has proven to be a engagement not won with chemical substance but with using best turf management practices .
