Take-All Root Rot

What it looks like

Irregular patches of off-color to almost white grass, ranging from a few inches to several feet across. If you pull up the grass, the roots and stolons look dark and rotted instead of white and healthy. In bad cases, older leaves yellow and the crown of the plant dies out.

Often mistaken for: General winter dormancy or drought stress in bermudagrass

When it shows up in the Triangle

Infection usually starts in late summer when soils are warm, but most homeowners notice the damage in fall, winter, or spring when cooler days and shorter daylight stress the bermuda further.

Where you’ll see it

Affects bermudagrass lawns.

What you can do

• Don't overwater—let the lawn dry out some between waterings
• Improve drainage in low or soggy spots
• Aerate regularly to reduce thatch buildup
• Avoid stressing the lawn with heavy traffic or scalping during weak periods