Neighbors FUNGUS(?) Creep-Anyone know what this is and how to kill it?

Question

My neighbor had a GREAT lawn (Tall Fescue) until July timeframe when his entire front lawn started getting this ?FUNGUS?? like issue killing all his grass, NOW it is creeping onto his side yard and NOW to edge of mine.... Can anyone tell what he may have? (He has True Green and the True Green people said they didn't know what it was.

Patricia W · Answer

One of two things. lack of water. The entire lawn needs fertilized and allowed to grow back about 4' and then mowed high. #2, hubby looked at it. It could be Fairy Ring, which is a fungus. It usually grows in a ring, but if it is then the only cure is to dig all the grass, get rid of the soil, add new soil and seed. he is pretty sure it is water and its being mowed too short. Its really not the best time to fertilize because lawns are best fed in the spring and mid summer.The next feed should be a winterizer to help it wake up nicely in the early spring. But, if left unchecked it will die.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Could be grubs. Pull up on the dead grass and look to see if it comes up in large clumps. Then look for the white grub just below the root.

Catherine Smith · Answer

Check with your local extension office, they should be able to help you figure out what's causing this problem and come up with some solutions. They will also probably suggest doing a soil test, which will give you a more detailed idea of what the balance of nutrients are in that soil. Part of that looks like fertilizer burn to me, but it's hard to tell from a picture. I believe I'd be asking some questions about what kind of fertilizer is being used, how often, and how much. Chemical fertilizers will kill off the microbes, earthworms and other beneficials in the soil, usually at a slow rate, but this looks like somebody over did it.

KrysFL · Answer

^^ I agree with calling the extension office. Is there a way to dig a little trench to separate his from yours so it doesn't spread and kill all your grass?

Douglas Hunt · Answer

Have they ruled out brown patch? I wonder if this could be caused by efforts to keep fescue green in the summer when its natural tendency is to go dormant.

Jeanette S · Answer

Fescue is a fantastic, sturdy grass, but like all grasses it can suffer in dry weather and when people cut it too low. I do not like the trend to cut grass about 1/2' above the root! There are all kinds of bugs from ants to spiders that can go after grasses. I started using a lawn care service because it was a lot easier and cheaper than the time it took to run down problems.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

It is odd how it comes off of the sidewalk in that pattern. Almost looks like some kind of run off from the driveway indicating chemical damage of some type, ( like a spray tank spill)but if it is continuing to 'grow' that sort of rules out that..hmm. I think is it in your best interest to have extension test it for you to find out what is going on.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Just make sure you need it. We had the same issue. Over half of my front yard was hit all of a sudden by them. Got no idea how they came and spread so fast. I could pick up lawn up like a carpet. And these grubs were everywhere. Eating all the roots off and killing the grass. After about five days and early migration of about a million black birds tearing up the lawn, could not find one grub. Natures way of pest control I assume. Pulled up all the dead stuff and planted grass seed. This year no issue at all.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

No I doubt it would, but personally the less chemicals needed the safer the ground would be. Remember kids and critters play on the grass. Just be sure to follow the directions. But if you do not find them, why waste the chemicals and your time. You will know right off if they are the reason if you pull up on the grass that appears dead. The grubs if present eat the root section of the grass. This then allows the dead grass on top to simply lift off the ground like a cheap hair piece as there is nothing left holding the sod to the soil. You will see these white bugs real easy as they are pretty big.

Audrey · Answer

WE -- thanks for the great description!!! I don't have the prob but surely will recognize it in the future!! Jim - Good Luck figuring it out and taken care of!!

Tullynut · Answer

I had a big problem with grass fungus this summer - we had a wet summer. Lawn guy said it was a fungus and that having him treat it would be pricey as it has to be done and redone. So I went to Lowes and bought a liquid (granular didn't work at all for my neighbor) fungicide. I sprayed the front yard and within 2 days the lawn returned to green. I have had to repeat it in spots for the past 3 weeks, but now my yard is free of the dead/dying spots and a dense green. Liquid, not granular, worked for me. The container at Lowes cost about $18 and covered my rather small front yard with a few more spot applications. HTH

Barbara Aubrey · Answer

Looks like Grubs that we make sure we put down mid-summer a couple of containers of round worms that will eat the Grub larva till it gets cold and the grubs go too deep for the worms. Lawn may not be pretty for almost a year but you will stop them as well as other pests without chemicals that may have killed off all your worms in the first place.

Gena Crow · Answer

If it's a fungus, you can treat it with cornmeal and not the kind at the grocery store. It's non-toxic! Check with your local organic garden center.

Jim Ginas · Answer

hmmmmm, Question: While mowing this week, I noticed out along the curb (off the street side) and along the driveway edge from my FRONT LAWN, HUNDREDS upon HUNDREDS of DEAD worms! this is off my front lawn and MY front lawn is doing really well, nice and thick and looks good!!

Jim Ginas · Answer

@Catherine:      the lawn in distress is my neighbors.  No earthworms near his curb or driveway.   My lawn is thick and green, though hadn't had any fertilzer on it since spring.   Dead worms COULD BE Ironite.   I put that down a few weeks ago.   Greens up the lawn.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

@Jim G do you have any trees in your front lawn near the street?

Jim Ginas · Answer

Donna,  I do.  Two, one on each end of the yard.  Plusone 30 feet back.

Tullynut · Answer

Don't remember the name - they only had one liquid antifungal for grass - it was in a black plastic bottle you hook up to your hose. Cost was around $18.

Jim Ginas · Answer

So timeline: 
Spring- Scotts fertilizer
approx 3 weeks ago-light hand spreading of Ironite 
Saturday-notice hundreds of dead worms
------ edge lawn and blow all clippings and dead worms to lawn again

Tl

Jim Ginas · Answer

Saturday after mowing,  sprayed yard w/ weed killer.    Today - hundreds of dead worms again!   But what killed the worms the 1st time before the weed killer??

Jim Ginas · Answer

@Tullynut:   thanks.   I'll pass yhat to him.    True Green was at his house again this morning.   He'll probably wait to see how they do.  If it does creep to mine,  I'll try it.

Drought Smart Plants · Answer

I'm going to make a suggestion to the OP that whatever this is, it looks to me like the neighbor may have washed his car in really hot weather, and the soap/detergent whatever he used has washed into the lawn and burned it. Look at the way it's run off, just as though it was water running off the driveway. For the smaller spots, most likely that is doggie urine spots...

Carolyn Bebb · Answer

I too have tall fescue and have fungus in the form of toadstools, I've been told to use a fungicide, and also been told there is nothing they can be done except pull them out by the roots. I have done this but can't keep up with them! HELP ツ

Karon Nelson Roberts · Answer

My ex-mother-in-law used an 'Epson Salt' spray for fungus on her flowers. She was told this from the agricultural agency in town. I don't know if that will help with grass, but she had the best flowers beds....her roses were 8-10 inches big, and bloomed almost year round.

360 Sod (Donna Dixson) · Answer

I just wandered if the worms could be from the trees. You said the carcasses were in the road? Just strange that they migrated from the yard to die in the street. Usually they will sort of just stay put when they are killed with a pesticide, not migrate out into the road, but I might have misunderstood your statement.

Gena Crow · Answer

Good luck and I hope it doesn't spread to yours! :-)

Mary · Answer

could be grubs from junebugs. epsom salt solution will help with this problem too. check on pinterest for natural solutions.

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Neighbors FUNGUS(?) Creep-Anyone know what this is and how to kill it?

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