Large Patch / Brown Patch just starting
Large patch getting larger
Horticulture Hotline 09/16/24
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
Brown Patch / large patch fungus is in the attack mode. The shorter days, moisture and finally the cooler weather has given this fungus all the conditions it likes to destroy the yard you worked hard on all summer. Disarm the fungus with Strobe Pro G fungicide!
Scout your yard for sod webworms and army worms. It is amazing with 3 stores (Possum’s) the stories you hear from lawn care people and homeowners about these worms. They can eat so much so fast it is amazing. Whether it is the professional or the DIY homeowner that has worked hard all summer to grow a uniform stand of turf, the worms just do not seem to care.
To scout for this varmint, look for scalped grass that has bite marks on the leaf blade. Moths flying around in a zigzag pattern in and out of the turf at dust is also a dead giveaway. Moths in plants that border your turf areas is a sign of bad things to come. The grass looks dry and brown.
Scale, aphids, and lace bugs are still out there sucking the life out of plants. My milk weed plant is covered in aphids that I leave for the lady bugs since these are the Monarch Butterfly’s plants. On evergreens you could use a drench product like Dominion. If your plant or tree is losing leaves for the winter, horticultural oil might be a better choice, depending on the infestation.
Winterizing your turf and shrubs should also be considered. No one likes to go to sleep hungry! Possum Minors, 00-00-25 Sulfate of Potash + minors, SeaHume, Cotton Burr Compost and / or Excell are a few excellent options for turf. Shrubs and trees are flushing growth now so 17-00-09 or Perk would put them to bed nicely along with SeaHume and Cotton Burr Compost. Watch out for the national marketing campaigns that promote ‘winterizing’products that were not designed to be used in this area.
I am sure you have put out one round of preemergent herbicide by now for winter weed control in your beds and turf. If not, better late than never. Weed seeds germinate pretty much year-round here, so you will stop any future infestation of weeds.
If you are changing out flowers in containers or hanging baskets, consider incorporating Soil Moist or HumGranWet. These products help manage water and your plants will not dry out so fast.
Fire Ants are out in big numbers after all the rain we had earlier this year. Two bait products that work very well and are very reasonably price are Surrender Fire Ant Bait (not the smelly white powder) and Extinguish Plus. These two products contain growth regulators that extend the period of control. Bait products or contact killers usually work best if spread over the whole yard.
I was working on an order of rat and mice control products last week and I mean to tell you, people of the Lowcountry, we have rodents! Rodents like to come inside this time of year.
Roaches, moles, fleas, earwigs, lawn shrimp?
Always read, understand, and follow product label. The product label is a Federal Law.
