Take-All Patch in St. Augustinegrass: Diagnosis and Management

Take-all patch is a devastating fungal disease of St. Augustinegrass in Georgia. Symptoms begin as irregular, straw-colored thin patches that coalesce into large dead areas. The disease can recur in subsequent years.

Research from Texas shows that lowering soil pH with sphagnum peat moss provides effective control. Apply 3.8 cubic feet of peat moss per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Fungicide options exist but require precise timing and selection.

Improving drainage, reducing shade, and avoiding excessive nitrogen in fall also help suppress this disease. Potassium fertilization in autumn appears to enhance winter disease resistance.