Summer Patch

What it looks like

Round patches of turf that wilt and then turn straw to reddish-brown. Often you'll see a ring of dying grass with a tuft of green surviving in the middle, called a 'frog-eye' pattern. If you dig down, the roots look dark, rotted, and thin instead of healthy and white.

Often mistaken for: Other patch diseases or general drought stress

When it shows up in the Triangle

The damage actually starts back in late spring when soil warms up, but you won't see it above ground until the heat and dry stress of summer hit — by then the roots are already hurt.

Where you’ll see it

Home lawns with Kentucky bluegrass or fine fescue.

What you can do

• Mow a bit higher to reduce stress on the grass
• Water deeply but not too often, rather than frequent light watering
• Avoid letting the lawn go through drought stress once roots are already damaged
• Reduce soil compaction and keep thatch in check
• Skip fertilizers that acidify the soil
• Consider resistant grass varieties if you're reseeding