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Throughout the year, your lawn becomes compacted from regular use. As this happens, a layer of thatch develops that is made up of a tightly bound layer of dead grass and roots that have built up at the base of your living grass. This thick layer blocks essential elements such as nutrients, water, and oxygen from reaching the roots which prevent your grass from growing. This thick layer also prevents new seeds from taking root in your soil. 

Brown Patch

Tall fescue and bluegrass can be affected by brown patch - a fungus that can create circular brown patches throughout your lawn. The blades of your grass first turn purplish-green, wilt, and then turn light brown. Rot can set in and your lawn will show irregular brown spots from an inch to several feet in diameter. It often appears when there are warm, humid conditions.

Red Thread

Red thread is a common turf disease most frequently occurring in cool wet weather during the spring and fall. Red thread produces a reddish fungal growth seen on leaf blades and after the leaves dry is when it appears to look like small pieces of red string laying in your turf. Usually, the turf has circular patches from 2 inches to 3 feet in diameter. 

Dollar Spot

A common disease in Maryland and Virginia is dollar spot. Dollar spot can occur in late spring through fall, although most damage occurs during June and July. Dollar spot is more prevalent in under-fertilized turf and in compacted soil with a thicker thatch layer. Typically, it looks like hour-glass shaped lesion with a dark border surrounding a whitened center, producing many 2-6 inch spots. 

Fairy Rings

This fungus prevents roots from taking in water, oxygen, and nutrients. Mushrooms appear in bands or circles and can be from 3-50' in diameter. Grass often appears greener in affected areas. To get rid of this fungus, begin by stripping off any dead turf and replace infested soil before re-sodding. Sod will be tight and hard. Use a root feeder to soak nearby grassroots, starting about 2 feet away and working towards the infested area. Soak several times to ensure the roots of your new grassroots takes hold in the soil.

Fusarium Blight

This is a fungal disease that attacks lawns that are highly exposed to the sun that are made up of either Kentucky bluegrass, red fescue, or bentgrasses. Fusarium blight will cause small brown rings to appear in early summer. To remove the fungus, begin by heavily soaking your lawn and avoid frequent light soakings. Then, dethatch and apply lime treatments to your lawn to avoid acidic soil. Finish up by applying high-Nitrogen fertilizers.

Powdery Mildew

Warm, humid days and cool nights favor mildew in bluegrass and fescues. The grass shows a gray-white, white, or brown mold on the leaf blades, often in shady areas with low air circulation and poorly draining soil. Avoid over-watering during hot humid weather and increase the amount of sunlight to the affected area.

Rust

Rust effects bluegrass, ryegrass, bermuda grass, zoysia, and tall fescue grass. Orange or red-brown blisters appear on the blades of your grass, causing it to wither and die. The blisters burst and the spores move on to infect healthy grass. In order to stop the spores in their tracks, mow the lawn as soon as it grows to a 1/2 inch and catch and remove all clippings.

Smut or Stripe Smut

Bluegrass and bentgrass are most affected by this fungus in cool spring and fall weather. Leaves develop black or gray stripes that rupture and discharge black spores infecting healthy grass. Diseased grass is stunted and begins to turn a yellow-green color while the leaves curl and shred before dying. To remove this fungus, seed your lawn with a blend of bluegrass seed that is more resistant to smut.

We understand grubs that are unique to the North Carolina area and through early detection and proper treatment, can prevent them from destroying your lawn. Grubs will quickly eat through the root system of your grass, killing your grass and causing brown patches throughout your lawn. If left untreated, they can quickly wipe out an entire lawn. These critters feed on plants and grassroots and typically remain underground for one to three years until they emerge as adult beetles.  If irregularly-shaped dead patches are appearing in your lawn, you may be dealing with grubs. 

Other signs of a grub infestation include: 

Raccoons, birds or other animals are digging up your lawn...these animals love to eat grubs
Dead patches of your lawn can easily be pulled back like a rug
Your lawn feels spongy when walked on

Preventative grub control treatments applied in late spring or early summer is the best way to treat for grubs.

Nutsedge is known for sticking out like a sore thumb by growing very quickly and much taller than the average grass. Nutsedge is easy to identify by its triangular-shaped blades that are often bright green. This weed is difficult to control because it is a type of grass and common weed control products may not work. It cannot be prevented with pre-emergent and has to be treated once emerged with a specialized product.