St. Augustine ( Stenotaphrum secundatum ) is a warm time of year perennial grass that thrives in southerly parts of the United States . It spreads easy and grow a light-green carpet of pasturage that requires little sustentation . The eatage , however , is susceptible to a mordant fungus triggered by different case of mold that appear after affectionate and rainy conditions or excessive and consistent irrigation .
Types
dark fungus on St. Augustine sess is due to three fungous disease called gray leafage stain , sludge mold and brown dapple disease .
Symptoms
symptom of gray folio spot come along as humble browned spot with purple margins that enlarge to become elongated or infield - shaped . Sections on foliage vane may also turn yellow . In extreme cases , lesions on spikes and stem develop and the leaves die . gray-haired foliage spot also get turf pot to appear char or burned and fragile .
gook mold appear on St. Augustine grass as petite pustules that resemble oil or ash deposits . The pustules develop very quickly and are orange , yellow , grey white or purple . Infected blades appear chickenhearted .
Brown Patch or Rhizoctonia blight starts as a tiny round maculation that enlarges in sizing to become a 2 - foot - wide horseshoe or circular patch . Sometimes the privileged segment of the circle recovers , leave behind a chocolate-brown scheme that resembles a pot ring .
Susceptibility
These three diseases affecting St. Augustine grass are piss - related . Overwatering exacerbates the job . Late even or night turf grass lachrymation does not allow the moisture or droplet on brand to dry out until the next morning time when the sun comes out . thatched roof on grass that prevents air circulation also makes the grass susceptible to disease , and using too much or too footling N - rich plant food assist in fungal ontogeny . Shaded sections of St. Augustine weed , areas with frequent water runoff , and low - lying spots are most vulnerable . Climate condition golden for the development of these diseases include ordered daytime temperatures between 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit , and nighttime temperature below 68 degrees .
Prevention
Treatment
The East Texas Gardening web site recommends fungicides to treat gray leaf spotlight include those that contain myclobutanil , azoxystrobin and thiophanate - methyl .
Although slime mold does not harm the grass , removing it becomes necessary because it looks unsightly . No antifungal are require . scratch the blade or calculate the flow of water from a hose over infected arena to drag in the gunpowder off .
deal brown patch with fungicides containing thiophanate - methyl , quintozene , myclobutanil and mancozeb .
