Southern Blight

What it looks like

You'll see round patches of dead or dying grass with white, fan-shaped fungal growth spreading across the surface. Around the edge of the patch, look closely for tiny tan-to-brown balls that look like mustard seeds sitting right at the soil or thatch line — that's the telltale sign this is southern blight and not something else.

Often mistaken for: Other summer patch diseases; confirm by checking for the small mustard-seed-like sclerotia at the soil surface

When it shows up in the Triangle

Shows up during hot, humid summer weather here in the Triangle, especially in thatchy or poorly-drained lawns. Once it's in the soil, it can stick around for years.

Where you’ll see it

Can affect any home lawn, but is worse where thatch has built up and drainage is poor.

What you can do

• Core aerate and dethatch to reduce thatch buildup
• Improve drainage in low or soggy areas
• Increase airflow around affected areas if possible
• Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizing during summer
• Remove heavily infected grass and debris and throw it away — don't compost it, since the fungus survives in plant material