How to Spot Signs of a Fall Lawn Disease in Your St. Augustine Grass

Texas lawns can deal with many common lawn diseases throughout the year, especially as summer weather starts to cool down. St. Augustine grass is a warm-season grass that is a common choice for homeowners in Texas, but it can be vulnerable to various issues. If you encounter a lawn problem in your St. Augustine grass, it’s important to know how to identify common diseases, and how to get rid of them fast. 

Brown Patch Disease 

One of the most common issues for St. Augustine lawns is brown patch fungus . It appears in large patches of discolored grass, normally during early fall or spring around the time the grass is transitioning into or out of dormancy. The irregular patches of grass can vary in size, from a few inches to a few feet, but will expand very quickly. Affected areas will turn brown with a yellow or tan-colored halo around the edges. When active, it should be treated with a fungicide application, but it can also be treated preventatively as well. To limit brown patch fungus from developing, avoid overwatering and perform aeration each spring. 

Gray Leaf Spot Disease

Gray leaf spot is a lawn disease that appears during late summer to early fall and can cause severe thinning in your lawn. Affected areas of the lawn will resemble burned or dead grass with lesions on the leaf blades. It’s encouraged during extended periods of high humidity or warm, wet conditions. Areas of your St. Augustine lawn that are heavily shaded may struggle more than others in full sun. You can get rid of gray leaf spot disease with fungicide applications. The best way to limit leaf spot in your lawn is by watering early in the morning to allow enough time for the grass to dry before the sun sets. 

Take All Root Rot 

Take All Root Rot, (TARR) is mostly active during spring or fall, when temperatures are more mild. Of the warm-season grasses in Texas, St. Augustine lawns struggle the most with this fungal disease. The disease attacks the grass roots causing thinning in the lawn. Affected areas of the lawn will appear in irregular patches of yellow or dead grass. A few conditions that can encourage root rot are excessive thatch, heavy shade, overwatering, soil compaction, and poor drainage. 

Other St. Augustine Lawn Problems Mistaken as a Fungal Disease 

Fall diseases aren’t the only thing to look out for in St. Augustine lawns in Texas. Patches of discolored or dead grass don’t always mean there’s a fungus present. Damaging lawn pests can be the culprit, too. In the fall season, grubs or chinch bugs can spike in your lawn and should be treated with an insecticide as soon as possible. Lawn grubs feed on the root systems causing areas of your lawn to die out. Chinch bugs on the other hand feed on the grass itself, injecting toxins into the grass blades. Chinch bug damage causes the lawn to become yellow and dry. Drought stress can also be mistaken as a grass disease during extended periods of hot, dry Texas weather. 

Local Lawn Care in Dallas to Protect Your Lawn from Pests and Disease

Common issues in St. Augustine grass can be difficult to diagnose on your own. Identifying your lawn problem correctly is the first and most important step to nursing your lawn back to health! Homeowners in Dallas looking for professional lawn disease control and pest protection can call the team at Lawn Tech. Since 1985, we’ve provided lawn care services in Dallas , Allen, Frisco, Prosper, Plano, McKinney, Denton, Flower Mound, and surrounding areas. In addition to weed control and fertilization programs, we offer lawn pest control , aeration , tree and shrub care , and Christmas light installation in the greater Dallas area . We know Texas grass types and what these lawns need to thrive. Contact us today to get a quote or learn more about protecting your St. Augustine lawn.