Brown Patch

Brown Patch is a relatively common disease whose causal agent is Rhizoctonia spp. and it can affect all turfgrass species during the summer months. The favourable conditions for its occurrence are warm humid weather patterns, particularly when soils are poorly drained and the sward is heavily thatched. As a result it is more commonly observed occurring on NZ Browntop or Fine Fescue lawns rather than ryegrass lawns.  This disease shows as rapidly enlarging irregular or circular patches where the foliage turns purplish initially followed by a light brown coloration. Occasionally the turf will recover in the centre of the effected area and this will result in the appearance of a ring of diseased turf.