Source: UF/IFAS 2021

Diseases are problematic when all three conditions are satisfied:

1. Disease present
2. Susceptible plant
3. Favorable environment

Large Patch, also known as Brown Patch, is a disease of warm season turfgrasses that rears its ugly head during the most beautiful time of the year, Florida Fall. The cooler conditions below 80 degrees combined with prolonged wetness encourages Large Patch growth in the turf.

Think about things that you can and cannot control. Temperature is managed by nature. Rain, also nature. But irrigation and fertilization, those are things completely within your control and how you manage these things will influence how well you can manage disease. Reduce irrigation as the season slows and the days become shorter and cooler. Stick to balanced fertilizers with a slow-release nitrogen source. Too much nitrogen will focus on pushing new growth resulting in a stressed-out plant less capable of preventing diseases.

Did you have a disease issue last year?

Keep records! The history of a site will help to predict potential problems and develop management strategies such as reducing irrigation. Even the best fungicides have limited ability to cure fungal issues. Fungicides stop the spread of the disease or prevent the disease from spreading. That is why recordkeeping is one of the best ways to know what to expect, how to prevent, and what to prepare if conditions are ripe for disease development.