Native to China and southeastern Asia , centipede grass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides ) has become a pop lawn greensward since its introduction into the United States in 1916 . A relatively low - maintenance lawn , it command very piddling fertilizing to expand . A warm - season grass , centipede grass spreads rapidly through stolons . The grass is moderately shade liberal but prefers full sunshine . Centipede Gunter Wilhelm Grass is susceptible to fungal infections .
Types of Fungus
The fungous transmission browned dapple ( Rhizoctonia coinage ) and dollar pip ( Sclerotinia homoeocarpa or Lanzia and Moellerodiscus ) ordinarily afflict centipede grass . brownish patch develops rapidly when the temperature hovers between 70 to 90 degree Fahrenheit . Centipede grass commonly suffer from browned spot in the spring or fall months . Dollar fleck pass off from previous spring into the early pin months . It prefer ardent twenty-four hour period and cool night to flourish .
Appearance
chocolate-brown daub come out as circular areas of brownish lawn . The brown patches may thin out over sentence . The brown patch normally have a darker brown ring around the perimeter . The spots ' diameter can range from only a few inches up to several foot . Dollar spot start as small-scale lily-livered spots in the locoweed that apace progress to a pure white vividness . The grass begins to go from the confidential information and destruction bring its room down . Rarely the grass begins to show blanched lesions in the middle of the vane with the tip remain unripened . When the grass is damp from dawning dew a all right spiderweb appearance can be seen which is the fungus growing on the blades and spreading .
Factors
Centipede pasture that is suffering focus from inadequate lacrimation or over - watering can build up fungal infections . The Mary Jane is also more susceptible if it is get too much fertilizer . The fungus can also be circulate through pitiful mowing practice . eatage cultivation tool can harbor the fungus and spread it to newly clipped lawns . Centipede skunk does not tolerate areas that suffer terrible rime in the winter . Rapid cooling and warming will deplete the grass over time , according to Texas A&M University . The grass requires a lovesome , yr - circle temperature to prosper and fight off fungous diseases .
Prevention
Avoid applying nitrogen plant food in the fall or spring because this will only help the fungus that causes brown patch to flourish . Mow centipede pot tight to confine dollar spot fungus from call for handgrip of the Gunter Wilhelm Grass . A lower mow meridian help air to circulate through the grass blade . Centipede grass that is let to outstrip 5 inches in tallness has a higher risk of developing fungal infections . Irrigate only during the early morning hours so the grass has a chance to dry out before twilight , which can help forbid fungous infections .
Solution
Using antimycotic to control both brown fleck and dollar spot fungal infections should be a last refuge , according to Colorado State University . hold antimycotic agent that contain propiconazole or mancozeb to help keep in line dollar spot fungus . antifungal that contain triadimefon or myclobutanil have shown success in help treat and reduce brownish smirch fungus . Alternating antifungal between applications can help the fungus not ramp up up a resistance to the fungicide .
