Bermuda Grass Diseases and Fungus

For most lawn lovers, the discovery of a disease or fungus in their bermuda grass lawn is more frightening than pests or weeds.  With ants, for example, you can apply a treatment and see results immediately.  Weeds can pulled out by hand or treated in a few days with a spray.

But diseases seem like these alien life forces that appeared out of nowhere and are now taking over our lawn!  What is it?  Where did it come from?  How can I get rid of it, if at all?

We will use the remainder of this page to detail several common diseases for bermudagrass and how to treat them.

Bermuda Grass Brown Patch

Description:  Round-shaped patches of thinning brown grass.  Brown patch affects many types of grasses including bermuda grass once temperatures get above 70 degrees F and usually in the spring and early fall.

Cause:  A fungal disease that thrives in warming temperatures and humid environments.  Poor lawn care habits can further encourage brown patch to take hold and spread rapidly.

Treatment:  Before using fungicides, be sure that you are following good bermuda grass lawn care practices.  If you need to water, water early in the morning.  Cut your grass regularly and at the proper height.  Bag infected clippings and dispose of away from healthy grass.  Rinse your mower and shoes after working in an infected area.

However, if brown patch gets established in your lawn, a good fungicide can be a big help.  Nancy Doubrava, HGIC Information Specialist, James H. Blake, Extension Plant Pathologist, Clemson University and Joey Williamson, HGIC Horticulture Information Specialist, Clemson University have prepared and revised a handy reference chart:

More of their work can be viewed here.

Remember to read the manufacturers label carefully and follow all directions and precautions.

Bermuda Grass Dollar Spot

Description:  Small, round patches of browning grass that often start out about the size of large coins. Patches can grow and merge to become large and are sometimes confused with Brown Patch. In the early stages, however, the speckled look of dollar spot is fairly easy to identify.

Cause:  As with Brown Patch, Dollar spot is a fungal disease that thrives in warming temperatures and humid environments.  Poor lawn care habits can further encourage brown patch to take hold and spread rapidly.

Treatment:  Before using fungicides, be sure that you are following good bermuda grass lawn care practices.  If you need to water, water early in the morning.  Cut your grass regularly and at the proper height.  Bag infected clippings and dispose of away from healthy grass.  Rinse your mower and shoes after working in an infected area.

However, if brown patch gets established in your lawn, a good fungicide can be a big help.   The most common fungicides for Dollar Spot are benomyl, anilazine, and thiophanate.  Follow manufacturers directions carefully.  If caught early enough, your grass can make a good recovery.