Which type of turf is most susceptible to brown patch disease?

Brown patch disease is primarily caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, which thrives in warm, humid environments. Warm season grasses, such as Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass, are particularly susceptible to this disease, especially during the summer months when the temperatures are optimal for fungal growth.

These grasses typically experience high humidity, which creates favorable conditions for the disease. The symptoms of brown patch disease include circular patches of brown or dead grass, which can escalate if not managed swiftly.

While other grass types, such as low maintenance grasses or shade grasses, may experience different issues related to their unique growing requirements, it is the warm season grasses that are most at risk for brown patch due to their growth habits and susceptibility to the conditions that foster the disease. Wetland grasses also usually prefer more saturated conditions, which can mitigate risk from brown patch compared to dry, warm conditions preferred by the fungi affecting warm season grasses. Thus, the identification of warm season grasses as the most susceptible category is well-founded in the scientific understanding of the pathogen's lifecycle and the environmental conditions that promote its growth.