What's killing my lawn?

[Horn89]

Lawn was fairly healthy a couple weeks ago. Then it got a spot like this:

Now spreading to kill half my grass:

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I'm pretty sure it's some kind of bug.

Advice appreciated.

BTW, this is St. Augustine grass (I think) in a South Austin neighborhood.

 

[texascoder]

grubs? cinch bugs?

 

[accuratehorn]

Kids walking across it?

 

[Horn89]

It's not kids. I sit on the front porch and scream when they put a foot on it.

Darn kids.

 

[Larry T. Spider]

fungus?

 

[brntorng]

If the weather has been cool and damp, it's probably a fungus. Easily treated with a fungicide.

 

[Perham1]

I'd also go with fungus. I think it's too early in the season for chinch bugs to be doing their dirty work.

 

[cbs]

If you're in Austin, you can cut out about a 1 foot square that has some dead and live and take it to the Natural Gardner.

But do something quick. We have about a 12 -15 foot area between my driveway and my neighbor's driveway. Neighbor's portion started dying last summer. We went to Florida for a week, came back, and the entire area (including our 1/2) was dead. I spent most of Saturday morning laying new sod to replace it.

 

[NickDanger]

I'd bet a lot of money on fungus. $10 to fix with crap you can get at the local nursery or hardware store.

 

[TXSNOS]

brown patch?

chinch bugs?

 

[NickDanger]

brown patch is a fungus

 

[Horn89]

Thanks, guys. Will do the fungicide thing tomorrow.

 

[taco]

I have some similar spots in my backyard and just sprayed fungicide and top dressed with some compost. Hopefully that will cure it.

I agree that is probably some sort of fungus and not chinch bugs (too early). Could be grubs I guess, I haven't dug a spot to see if thats what I have. Beneficial nematodes are good for getting rid of those, fyi.

Brown spot is a circle so its not that

 

[cincyhorn]

Doesn't look like a fungus based on shape and color. Most likely a bugs feeding on the root system. Get down on your hands and knees. Rub the grass between where the good meets the bad. Rub hard for about 15 or 20 seconds. Then hold your hand still while still in the grass. If it is bugs, you should see them. It really looks like cinch bugs, but it is too early for them.

 

[brntorng]

Put down some fungicide, insecticide, turf fertilizer, Ironite, and keep it properly watered. Pull any weeds that take root as it recovers. As it starts to fill back in, you can very gradually top dress with a little Dillo dirt periodically.

 

[the Saint]

Probably not grubs, at least not according to the agroids.

Thanks Aggies

 

[Wild Bill]

I would have to go with Brown Patch as well. I have had this many times on my front lawn, especially after heavy rains. Treat with fungicide and don't water much. The dry weather is the enemy of fungi. More info:
The Link

 

[Swiffert]

fungus