Category: Disease Reports

Two-panel turfgrass disease graphic. Left image shows circular brown patch damage on a closely mowed putting green. Right image is a close-up of tall fescue leaves displaying brown patch lesions with dark, scalloped margins; a key is included for size reference. Summary message: Brown patch disease has become active due to favorable warm, humid weather conditions.

July 7, 2026: Summer Sequels

Summer sequel of heat approaches; rainfall chances lessen perhaps furthering flash drought symptoms; brown patch awakens; dollar spot severity heightens; Curious about dollar spot recovery? Join us at Field Day on July 21. Weather After a fairly mild month of...
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Pythium root diseases in rain-soaked areas A. Pythium root rot symptoms appearing as a diffuse thinning on a putting green. B. Numerous oospores in affected root tissue.

June 4, 2026: Entering the Cauldron

May temperatures mild before summer heat, Pythium root diseases on bentgrass greens and young fairways, curative options for dollar spot that may have slipped through, wet spring can lead to issues all summer long.             ...
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Poorly performing lawns in spring are not always disease related A. Homeowner submitted sample showing uneven green driven by Kentucky bluegrass cultivar differences. B. Devoid areas with winter annual invasion likely the result of prior year crabgrass infestation.

May 4, 2026: Spring Hits the Brakes

May 2026 hits the brakes on spring; root infection observed on putting greens by soilborne pathogens; constant spring rains = surprise black layer; delayed (or no) spring green up on lawns is not always disease.          ...
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Irrigation - Stark differences between golf and lawn A. Golf putting greens are planted on a “big pot” filled with sand and pea gravel. B. Conversely, home lawns are planted on little topsoil and mostly subsoil with fine pore space.

April 13, 2026: Spring Marching into Madness

Spring well ahead of schedule; the madness of spring irrigation on lawns; soilborne diseases on putting greens over winter; status of dollar spot and soilborne disease prevention on golf greens.                     ...
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Fall Dollar Spot Spark A. Alternating healthy and dollar spot affected stripes from fungicide treated vs. non-treated creeping bentgrass plots. B. Dollar spot outbreak on a Kentucky bluegrass lawn.

September 25, 2025: On a Bumpy Mend

Drought impacting lawns for a variety of reasons ; dollar spot resurgence on creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass; scalping and decline in relation to nitrate spikes on putting greens.                      ...
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Summer patch on bluegrass and bentgrass A. Summer patch + heat stress on bentgrass green. Inset - ETRI in roots. B. Summer patch symptoms on Kentucky bluegrass rough. Inset - Individual plant symptom.

August 26, 2025: Cool Breeze Offers Some Ease

Summer patch hits hard in early August; fall rust outbreaks causing orange shoes; cool temperatures allowing a head start on recovery plans.                                    ...
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Root issues on a newly grassed bentgrass putting green. Pythium root dysfunction and root knot nematode attacking at the same time.

July 30, 2025: The Fuel & The Fire

Pervasive and disease conducive environment; newly grassed bentgrass green issues; basal rot anthracnose on Poa annua and creeping bentgrass; dollar spot and brown patch still rampaging; Lawn Care Diagnostic Training; New Zoysiagrass Field Day Weather Like a boulder chasing down...
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Rhizattackin’ tall fescue lawns in July A. Photo sent in by homeowner with characteristic brown patch lesions. B. Irrigated tall fescue lawn hit hard with brown patch symptoms.

July 9, 2025: Rhizattackin’

Heat & high ET = droughty lawns; brown patch prevalent on irrigated lawns; dollar spot hitting bentgrass fairways with force & lurking on Kentucky bluegrass; 2025 field day in the books; brief pause in turfgrass diagnostic services * Turfgrass diagnostics...
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Rain more widespread throughout the region A. First half of June has delivered widespread and considerable rainfall totals. - MRCC B. Above average rain chances expected to continue through June. - NOAA

June 19, 2025: Storms before the Storm

Early summer storms; preparation for impending heat wave; brown patch and leaf spot arrival; zoysia/bermudagrass winterkill and disease activity Weather Yesterday’s storms produced a wallop in the region, with extreme winds felling trees and lodging corn. A wet first half...
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Rain down south; sparser in NE Indiana A. Rainfall again heavy in the southern part of the state and through KY. - NOAA B. Above average rain chances expected for much of the region to end May. - NOAA

May 21, 2025: Engines Running

Dollar spot off and racing; Irrigation = Ascochyta blight; Seedheads draining lawn health; Mind mowing decks and blades to reduce clipping issues. Weather  In April 2025, Indiana as a whole had the 30th warmest temperature and 10th most precipitation on...
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The Bath Tub is Full A. Considerable flooding for our friends in southern IN and KY last week. B. All are left with the quandary of when to mow wet turfgrass.

April 16, 2025: Muddy Waters

Excessive and in some cases, abusive rainfall amounts; keys to soggy turfgrass management; winter injury potential causes and recovery, red thread, spring golf disease prevention Weather Spring, which officially started on March 20, is rolling along, and into mid-April temperatures...
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September ran warm and dry until Helene hit. Summer like temperatures ran into September.. — MRCC Impact of Helene apparent in this graphic. — MRCC

October 2, 2024: Functions of Fall

Snow mold prevention on putting greens; reduced cool season turfgrass disease activity in fall; warm season disease prevention. Weather After a cool start, September turned on the burners and ended 3-5 degrees above normal in the region. Since 1943, September...
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Leaf Spot/Melting Out on Kentucky bluegrass A. Kentucky bluegrass lawns have been hit with severe leaf spot this season. B. Cigar shaped, dark spores of the leaf spot pathogen covering lower leaves. 
Inset - Dark spores produced by a leaf spot pathogen.

August 28,2024: Last Spark of Summer

Plan for recovery when the heat passes. Brown patch on tall fescue rages on. Silent summer patch pathogen infection roars to life. Complicated leaf spot pathogens one of the stories of the season. Weather            ...
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A bit of pre-field day calamity from sustained early morning 75 mph winds didn’t halt the learning at this year’s field day event.

August 7, 2024: Peak of the Season

2024 Disease Season reaches its height; recovering from abiotic stresses; perennial ryegrass declines quickly; dollar spot on Kentucky bluegrass intensifies; brown patch looking neither brown nor patchy; algae explosion on putting greens.                ...
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Lethal Combo - Brown Patch & Pythium A. Fungicide treated tall fescue on the left vs. untreated on right. B. Mycelium noted in early morning due along with characteristic brown patch lesions. Inset: Microscopic view of Pythium and Rhizoc attacking in harmony.

July 12, 2024: Beryl Brings Post 4th Fireworks

Beryl sparks disease activity; Brown patch/Pythium combo on tall fescue; Anthracnose pressure intensifies; Waitea/Rhizoctonia patches form on Poa; Field day next week. Purdue Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day – Next Tuesday, July 16th! The Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day...
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The Summer Heat Dome Hottest temperatures of the year arrived with the 1st day of summer. — MRCC Overall dry June thus far. — MRCC

June 25, 2024: Litmus Test

Summer stress temperatures arrive; Drought symptoms arrive in a flash; Leaf spot diseases prevalent in lawns this season; Patch diseases and the role of rhizosphere pH in their suppression.                      ...
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Warm May with Above Average Rainfall May has run 5+ degrees above normal for much of the month. — MRCC Taking into account race day rainfall will push some areas past 5” in May. 
— MRCC

May 28, 2024: The Engines have Started

Diseases push on the throttle; 1st observation of brown patch on tall fescue; annual bluegrass weevil damage on bentgrass surrounds; foliar anthracnose and localized dry spot on putting greens.                       ...
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Temperature well above normal this spring Over the last 30 days, temps have ben 4+ degrees above normal. — MRCC High daily temperatures 75-80 degrees throughout much of IN. — MRCC

May 9, 2024: Pathogens Pecking

Spring prep is done; Lawns: Seedhead season; Straight lines normally don’t = disease. Golf Putting Greens: Dollar spot rings in the season; Anthracnose inoculum building and soilborne pathogens lurking. Registration for Purdue Turfgrass & Landscape Field Day open!  Weather The...
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Spring 2024 is blooming 20+ days ahead of normal.

April 11, 2024: Soggy Spring

Highlights: Wet start to spring = lawns – powdery mildew & fret over wet mower tires; focus on soilborne diseases on golf putting greens. Weather Forgoing May in the popular poem, April showers along with warm temperatures have spurred many...
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March 12, 2024: Early Spring Arrival

Highlights: Spring 2024 is weeks ahead of schedule; lawn preparation; soil temperature status; fungicide timing for dollar spot and soilborne diseases; yellow patch observations; short survey request.                          ...
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