Should I use a fungicide on brown grass during high humidity?
Applying a fungicide to heat-stressed and browning turf during humid weather can be tricky, as severe damage often leaves the grass dead and unable to recover. Treating small patches might not save grass that easily pulls out of the ground, leading many to wonder if they should simply wait to fertilize in the fall instead.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Giving edges extra water with a hose in the morning
- 2Applying a fungicide to tall fescue
- 3Waiting to hit the lawn with fertilizer in the fall
- 4Raking out the dead grass
- 5utilizing a phosphite treatment
- 6skipping top soil to reduce moisture retention
- 7holding off seeding until later in the year with less humidity or colder ground
- 8cutting back or stopping watering and using an over the counter spray
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“for the past 3 years on my new construction I’ve been trying to patch areas that don’t have good grass growth.”source ↗
“Each year I add top soil, and high concentrations of perennial rye and Kentucky blue. I keep seeing this every year around September and it kills my new grass.”source ↗
“Prior to the humidity, I noticed my edges getting heat stressed and started to turn brown.”source ↗
“After this recent spell of humidity, I noticed the browning started to look “black” and I can only assume it’s fungus. The grass pulls out really easy too so unfortunately I’m guessing it’s dead dead”source ↗
“My question is, should I treat this with a fungicide? I’ve read mixed reviews about using fungicides on tall fescue but I’d only hit the edges since the rest of the lawn is in great condition. Should I just let it be and hit it with fert in the fall. Or should I try raking it out.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 14Can I plant grass seed in 90 degree weather?
- 17How to keep a lawn green during a drought with water restrictions
- 10Should I kill crabgrass in late summer or wait for spring?
- 10How to water new grass seed with a full-time job
- 2Why do shingles scuff when installed in hot weather?
- 2Will heavy rain wash away grass seed after overseeding?