Diagnosing Brown Patches in New Sod: Fertilizer Burn vs. Fungus and Organic Solutions

Quick Field Test

Sod installed Oct '06, thick and lush this spring. Recent brown/scorched patches in full sun after wet June turned dry/hot. Watered periodically, fertilized early May.

Tug Test

• Grab brown grass, tug.
• Comes up easily, few/no roots, slick/slimy feel → brown patch fungus.
• Roots hold, blades brown/tan → fertilizer burn or drought.

Treatment

• Fungus: Horticultural cornmeal, 10 lbs/1,000 sq. ft., watered in.
• Burn: Water heavily to leach salts.

Long-Term: Switch to Organic

Organic program costs less, requires far less labor, yields better results. Sugar, compost, deep watering, corn gluten meal, alfalfa/lava sand build resilient soil that resists both burn and fungus.