Horticulture Hotline 10/21/25
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
Wow, we are getting weather that is making it really hard to
deal with some of our perennial worst situations this time of year. The rain we
had about ten days ago was a perfect slow rainfall that penetrated our
landscapes instead of running off into stormwater drains and out into the
harbor. Unfortunately, Large Patch loves this moisture too.
Rain and nighttime temperatures in the 60’s are perfect
weather for Large Patch (Brown Patch) disease in turf. Unless you cover your
grass with a tarp, like a baseball diamond, it is hard to turn off the rain.
Hopefully, you are managing your irrigation system. It seems like when the
skeletons and other Halloween decorations appear in the lawn, so does the Large
Patch. With a disease, you want to treat when the conditions are favorable,
before you see the damage.
All fungus diseases must have three factors line up for
there to be an active problem. This is referred to as the disease triangle.
There must be a susceptible host (your grass), a favorable environment (in this
case cool nights, water, grass is going into dormancy….), and the disease must
be present (in the soil in this case). When all these conditions are met, the
disease strikes your grass.
The quick fix would be to apply Strobe G or T-Methyl
throughout the yard. Strobe G and T-Methyl are systemic fungicides that get
into the plant (grass) and protect the grass plant from the disease. Getting a
flu shot would be a human equivalent. Depending on the weather, rotating
chemistries is always a good idea to prevent resistance to the disease. Applying
the product before you get the disease when you notice conditions are right,
will save you money and time applying the product. You wouldn’t get a flu shot
after you had the flu. Unlike the flu shot, Strobe G and T-Methyl do have
curative rates.
Rats, mice and roaches like to move inside for the winter
and the rain just seems to accelerate that migration. The Lowcountry is such a
hospitable place, I guess we welcome rats, mice and roaches too! I was looking
over some figures the other day preparing for our 2026 season at Possum’s and I
was amazed at the amount of products we sell to control these pest. Granted,
many of them are sold to professionals; however, they are still used in this
area.
Do irrigate your yard in the winter because the dry, cold
low humidity air can desiccate your lawn, trees and shrubs, similar to the way
your lips get chapped. The grass loses water through the runners even though it
is dormant and the trees and shrubs lose water through the bark and leaves (if
it is an evergreen).
Mole crickets and fire ants have been particularly active.
With Halloween just around the corner, be sure to manage your fire ants. You
would not want that little Princess or Vampire to get bit!
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
